WINTER 2014 • VOLUME 110 PUU E 1 • THE ALUMNAE/I

WINTER
2014
•
VOLUME
110
PUU
E 1
•
ALUMNAE/I
THE
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Contents
WINTER
2014
VOLUME
110
ISSUE
1
THE
ALUMNAE/I
QUARTERLY
features
4
TEACHER-SCHOLARS
The Vassar Quarterly presents
teacher-scholars who support
just
With students, they examine subjects
diverse
as
conflict in Africa —all while employing Vassar’s
5
8
11
14
17
THE
A
REEXAMINING
PUTTING
POLITICS
REBELLION:
RESILIENCE
OF
MORE
Videos
by
TO
MEMORY
IN
ONLINE
lipid
QUINCY
PUZZLES:
COMPLEX
as
TERESA
MILLS
GARRETT
ZACHARIAH
THE
TEST:
LATIN
AT
exploration.
science and civil
enduring approach to critical analysis.
NARRATIVE:
CUTTING
SOLVING
few of the many talented
a
contemporary curriculumrooted in
a
MAMPILLY
TUGADE
MICHELE
AMERICA:
KATHERINE
’95
HITE
VQ.VASSAR.EDU
the electronic music duo MS MR —Lizzy
Plapinger and Max Hershenow,
Remembrances of the late Elizabeth “Betty” Adams Daniels ’4l, who served Vassar
A slideshow
ofworks from
the Art Center’s collection
Vegan recipes
...
both ’lO
for
65 years.
oflnuit art.
and morel
departments
2
32
45
President's Page
Beyond Vassar
Class Notes
3
43
87
Letters
Mixed Media
Announcements
20
44
88
Vassar Today
Vassar Yesterday
Last Page
President's
page
Working
Not
Access
ago, I
long
too
Expand
to
to
of higher education. As Secretary
to
of Education Arne Duncan put
higher
financial aid
students and their families
well
as
bullets
[ but]
to
become
together to
how
get
over
has
knows,
value of
the
aspect of the
the
meeting was
higher education, and access
policy—especially when it comes
pressing problems facing
of income
to
addressing
country today:
our
that threaten our
inequality
that
sent
vital components of
are
to
public
of the
one
national commitment
equal opportunity and social mobility. These are bedrock
of our democracy, and guaranteeing opportunity and
to the kind of
superb
all talented students is
equal opportunity
to
one
the
liberal arts
way
to
an
about this
so
subject
on
continued
mater:
on
believe that
a
campus over
so
at
one
possible.
of
our
college
personal
note
many
the past several years
out
as
can
be
a
reality
for them.” She
she discussed her
own
alma
“The truthis that if Princeton hadn’tfound
my brother
a
a
campus like that, it
never
that Vassar, and
that he could succeed
would have occurred
that school—never.” These
on
many promising young people
basketballrecruit, and if I hadn’t seen
to
and rewarding
gathering, “Right now, we’re missing
much potential because
simply don’t
to
we
education makes
Michelle Obama could have been speaking
when she told the
to
satisfying, challenging,
lives of purpose that such
meetings
offer
commitment
education
maintain our
to
me
to
stickerprice—which is the case
as
on
apply
at
Vassar,
for
paid
earnings
on
endowments and
The letter
went
on
financial aid based
students get
who
subsidies
students,
and
ment
on
a
student’s financial
the
same
as
price. The
it is
a
2
WINTER
2014
needier
sources
of these
the general subsidy for all
state
support,
including preferential tax treatgifts, are in large part justified
endowment earnings and
in America. As these
completely
economic and social
long-held values of our
society,
appropriate that needier students receive
greater share of these
significant
are
resources
a
thanwealthier students. It is the
rise in non-need-based aid
colleges and
universities that jeopardizes these objectives, mainly increasing the subsidy for higher-income families at the expense of
at
exactly the types of students
needier ones.”
That should be
a concern
for all of
us.
many
'OO
Abramson
Coleg-Evan
Vas ar
ever
more
focused
on
Ab ot
the short
Coleg-John
more
addressing the situation,
even
as
each of
Daniels
//
incapable of dealing with long-term
climate, it is important to be able to share
with peers ideas about
need,
the tuition dollars of the wealthier students.
by promoting equal opportunity and
mobility
peer
subsidy,
total subsidies than wealthier students
are
not
“Federal and
on
our
gifts.
the full sticker
paying
are
larger
larger
a
©
are
system that has become
challenges. In such
all of
say, “When schools also offer
to
colleges and universities like us, need to reach.
as a
sobering reminder that we have a
term, rendering it ever
at
appropriations, federal support, and
by state
The meeting also served
political
and
schools—the reality is that every student is getting
which is
most
unprecedented levels
principles
access
effec-
are
the educations of
each student is greater than the full
long-overdue message it
it,
idea, as inaccurate as
divisive, that students whose
question recently in a letter to the
Journal, noting that
when the average amount
spent by
a college or
university on educating
long
to
is the
Wall Street
significant
most
in
their peers who receive financial aid
college.
our
For me, the
leadership
playing
are
from the college. I addressed this
been a top priority for us, reflecting
a core
criti-
expanding
we
tively subsidizing
into, and through,
college—something that, as anyone
last several years
frequent
most
role
it is
students
who has followed Vassar
for inaction.”
excuse
families pay full tuition
low-income
more
an
cisms I hear about the
access
could work
we
silver
no
...
One of the
people, foundation heads, and
nonprofit executives. The subject
was
we
are
or
easy solutions here
can’t let the difficulty of the
challenges facing higher education
(Fall
business
as
“We know there
it,
education
2012). In January, I was invited
than 100
back, along with more
other presidents of colleges and
this time
to
institutions
our
the White House
they offer
universities,
to
about being invited
institutions of
when
formal commitment
a
expanding access
discuss the issue of transparency
by
made
us
in this column
wrote
Vas ar
CATHARINE
HILL, PRESIDENT
©
Letters
A PART OF VASSAR HISTORY:
PUBLISHER
Alumnae
and Alumni
Geraldine
of Vassar
College
Betty Daniels 41
3
Laybourne '69, President
Duane Lichtenberg '9O,
Patricia
Executive
Director
This
VICE
January, Elizabeth
“Betty” Adams Daniels
PRESIDENT.
COMMUNICATIONS
Susan
DeKrey
OF
DIRECTOR
whom
ALUMNAE/I
COMMUNICATIONS.
EDITOR
OF
VASSAR
Elizabeth
Randolph
elrandolph@vassar.edu
ASSISTANT
EDITOR
Digital and Social
Debbie
ART
Media
Swartz
&
DIRECTION
Pirtle
historian Colton
the
college—as a student,
professor, administrator,
and
and parent of a student—for
of
and
are
I think
part of who she
Alexa
Levine
noted
After the decision
honor-
years of service.
'l4
Garneva
Lanbo
ing Betty’s
Betty began teaching
the English Department
'l5
Santos
Tzvetelina
'l5
Yang 'l5
in
at
Vassar in 1948. She held
COMMITTEE
ADVISORY
Alex
Bhattacharji '92
Carla
DeLandri
'7B
Sally Kilbridge '7B
David
McGoldrick
Mary Peacock
Geraldine
many other
positions
the
of her
course
studies, acting
dean of the
faculty,
of the
and
OFFICES
124 Raymond Avenue,
Box 647
served
College, 124 Raymond Avenue,
Poughkeepsie, New York 12604
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the
ofthe
College. Vassar,
Quarterly, is published
in the
winter, spring/summer, and
by the Alumnae and Alumni of
Vassar
College (AAVC). Unsolicited
manuscripts must be accompanied by
a self-addressed, stamped envelope,
TO
LETTERS
THE
to
send
vq@vassar.edu.
is
a
legacy
knowledge.
vast
her
the
efforts,
to
go
College presented
with the
Betty
of
Spirit
Vassar Award in 2006,
a
mission
is to ignite powerful connections
other,
possi-
merger between
Yale,
and her class—for which
and
later,
develop
she’d served
president
as
several times—funded the
Elizabeth Adams Daniels
that remains the backbone of
Seminar Room in
today’s
Vassar curriculum.
65, Betty
weekend,” as
she put
and then went
it,
work the following
Vassar’s
as
rian,
she
Monday
which
to
devoted herself
than 20 years.
more
for
Betty
authored, coauthored,
edited
about the
and its
Henry
or
eight books—seven
college’s history
presidents, including
Noble MacCracken,
who had had
profound
a
retired
Betty
for
good—in 2012, moving
Vermont
to
her
histo-
inaugural
position
a
to
Special
Collections in her honor.
At the age of
“retired for the
Although
an
of
could
Duty”
about the present-
to
and the world.
2013.
©
2013
was
not
grant
degrees
to
men,
there
ment
with New York State
of the
that
granted
Quarterly.
I
was
sorry,
however, that there was
no
who attend-
veterans
ed Vassar in the forties and
fifties. We
where,
AAVC
Vassar
all-women’s college and
day veterans attending the
college, in the Fall 2013 issue
are
a
song
“Where, oh
the
veterans? Safe
wide,
had
even
about them:
Affirmed
COPYRIGHT
the
helped
to
implementation plan,
including a new curriculum
Thanks for the article “Call
War II
living bridge whose
Vassar, to each
committees tasked
exploring
of
she
mention of the many World
MISSION
AAVC
on
studies,
she
the
Letters
EDITOR
We value yourfeedback. Please
letters
future
be
to
near
daughter, Sherry.
A chronicler of Vassar
will live
history, Betty
through
to
her beloved alma
and
through
Read
lucky
were
have known her.
to
full
a
mater
the memory
of those who
enough
on
her contributions
and
obituary
remembrances
other
at vq.vassar.edu.
magazine,
Vassar
or
Alumnae/i
fall
the
opinions of the
and notthose
AAVC,
to
Vassar and
reflectthe
in Vassar’s
coeducation.
Then dean of
to
Records, Box 14, Vassar
YEARLY
mid-19605, she
transition
changes
historian.
played a key role
POSTMASTER
Send address
chair
English Department,
Vassar
In the
Poughkeepsie, New York 12604
845.437.5447, Fax 845,437.7239
Articles
coeducational Vassar.
a
coed,
career,
men, dean of
officio
EDITORIAL
over
dean of fresh-
including
'75
'64
Laybourne '69,
ex
writers
exploring
the possibility
of
event
her
Vassar
we
is,”
during an
students, leaving
For
President Catharine Hill
a
current
Johnson
Alumnae and Alumni of
one
are
Encyclopedia with
generations
part of who
a
the online
ASSISTANTS
Marlena
Central
Vassar
was
recently,
had been associated with
Giurdanella
EDITORIAL
student.)
the assistance of
Duba
Hyde '92, Coordinator
while she
More
history”—died at the age of
93 in Middlebury, VT. Betty
we
Rebecca
president
she created
“She is
NOTES
Joan
a
the better part of 75 years.
DESIGN
Woody Pirtle, Scarlet
had called “the
some
her. (He served
living embodiment of Vassar
Design, Inc.
CLASS
influenceon
as
—
ninety-six
now
wide world.”
in the
the
was
arrange-
BAs
from
after completing
state
work on
course
an
our
campus.
Editor’s Note:
The vets that
after
much
often
mention them in the magazine.
In fact,
article
an
on
page 44
of this issue reveals the little-
that Vassar
football
happy
very
college’s
consciousness and we
known
was
part of the
a
Though only an undergraduate
at the time, a corner
of
me
to Vassar
came
World War II are
fact that the original
“Vassar Vets” tried to start
a
team at the college in
did this for those vets. I’m
1946. But
we
happy for
including
a
nod to them in the
article on
the newest round of
MARY
BELL
HONOLULU,
these new
WEINER,
HAWAII
vets
too.
did
err
in not
student-veterans.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
3
TEACHER
SCHOLARS
here
are
examples
many
of fine
teaching
Vassar—teaching that engages students not
by challenging
them
them in the
unprecedented
scholarship
access
but
classroom,
at
just
by allowing
to and involvement in the
and research of innovative faculty members.
Together, faculty
everything
from
members and students
lipid
science to
explore
psychological
resilience to civil conflict in Africa and Southeast Asia—-
topics
that
very much a part of
are
discourse —employing Vassar's
critical
today's
world-wide
enduring approach
analysis.
This close involvement allows students to
one
to
might normally
setting.
And the
provide
has
mentorship
helped
they've exited
The Vassar
expect them to obtain in
to
guide
that
faculty
many
gain
a
graduate
members
graduate
a
skills
once
Main Gate.
Quarterly presents just a
talented teacher-scholarswho support
curriculum rooted in
a
tradition of
few of the many
a
contemporary
exploration.
A CUTTING NARRATIVE
By Jeffrey Kosmacher
Imagine: It’s 1839, and you’re a free black man
f traveling through Newburgh, NY, about 20 miles
that
I 1 south of Poughkeepsie. You are
in a state
abolished slavery 11 years earlier, but you walk into a
Ab ot
black-owned barber
Coleg-Jhn
portais,
faculty
//
Pres
Asociated
Stre t,
Wall
Oc upy
and
meorials
Peruvian
and
Vietnam
to
proprietor bluntly tells you
"
Vas ar
©
shop
get your hair
he doesn’t
and the
cut
“coloreds.”
serve
To appreciate this actual occurrence
in its time and
place, Associate Professor of History Quincy Mills
knows you
must
out
step
of the businessman. In so
of the customer’s shoes and into those
doing you
enter
the
illuminating
world
of African American barbers—which Mills explores in his
Cutting Along
Shops in America (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013).
it,
In
he reveals invaluable and often
the intersection of commerce,
and race
Slavery
and key forces
constant
at
shifting impacts
perspectives (he
earned
establishes early in his book
key
component of the
Barber
paths to
legacies
both business and
MBA and
PhD in history), he
a
that, “Self-sufficiency
meanings
ownership
has been
of black freedom since
been one
of the most
and economic
sheds light
a
slavery.
accessible
independence.”
the black barber
Barbering
other
notes
required for
wealthy whites entrusted to enslaved
free black
that, as
emerge from
slavery
patrons that refused
black
black
their success.
had been among the services that slaveholders and
as
to
skilled in
men
black
cultivate
to
an
men.
Mills
barbering sought
self-reliant businessmen,
realized they would have
as
refusing
the economic necessities these
on
entrepreneursfaced and the choices
to
they quickly
clientele,
elite white
be barbered in the
same
establishment
customers.
base, so they essentially
As he writes in
decisions did
to
retain their
chose sales
Cutting Along
over
wealthy customer
solidarity,”
says Mills.
the Color Line : “Their business
go unnoticed among black communities across
the country. In the period between the end of the Civil War and
the turn
social
are
history from
an
shops have historically
business
and
work in the history that Mills analyzes.
A scholar of African American
social
unexpected insights about
entrepreneurship, race identity,
relations for African Americans since the 19th century.
in the U.S. and its
study about
case
“Black barbers wanted
new
the Color Line: Black Barbers and Barber
book
Mills’s
customers
not
of the century, black barbers
costs
carefully calibrated the
grooming exclusively
and the financial benefits of
the white elite.”
small stories Mills shares in his book,
Through the numerous
he weaves
of African American history,
together many nuances
politics, culture,
and
commerce
to
yield an
even
more
powerful
historical impact.
Consider Uriah Boston,
abolitionist,
and black
a
19th-century Poughkeepsie barber,
suffrage
leader who found himself in
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
5
a
public
scrape with fellow abolitionist
and social reformer Frederick Douglass.
Mills writes:
reasoned that
“Douglass
Center
look like in 1940 or
address where
Poughkeepsie—the same
Boston had his shop—Mills pointed
out
in his grandfather’s South Side
that Douglass’s attitude about black
barber
barbers would undoubtedly have been
“The moments
in
more
freedom,
black barbers embraced
of economic
sense
a
security. Douglass
or ‘high
taking
envisioned the mechanical arts,
industry,’
as
the path
elevation and
Douglass
with
respectable citizenship.”
shared these
broader
a
black economic
to
overreliance
on
began
what
to
publication (he jokes
was
service
professions—-
black barbers had been a
Walker,
Martin
and he made
of the Frederick
readers
bully
Douglass’ Paper.
wrote
to
the paper
proved
gestating),
19th-century
he had
no
flashpoint for
uplift,
social
identity,
loyalty.
race
while
piqued
His curiosity was
first
working on an ethnog-
of the Truth and Soul barber
raphy
shop on
the South Side of
order
Melissa
Harris-Perry’s acclaimed
white
to
black
citizens,
barbers, cooks,
and waiters need to stop
recounts
serving them,”
Mills in his book. Boston
in defense of his
wrote
profession, pointing
out
that barbers constituted “a very large
class of business men among our
people.”
Last
hosted
WINTER
fall,
by the
201
4
public reading
Mid-Hudson Heritage
at
a
Chicago, for
book
Chicago
fueled his interest
shop
well.
as
I remember most
vividly
are
those whenhe had no
sat
in his barber’s chair
talking
with a
fellow barber or other men
and
in the
shop,”
customers
writes Mills. “I
buzzing
selectively forget the
from the clippers
ear
in my
me whenhe cut
my hair.”
While in 1840 black-owned barber
that unnerved
idea that
African Americans’ debate
about economic
and
that three of
born while the book
in support of
Douglass’s charge that in
operate on equal footing with
to
be his 13-year journey from research
about blacks’
and David
“Many
When Mills
critique
as
were
customers.
his children were
his beliefs well known from the
pulpit
black
views—along
with such fellow black activists
Delany
favorable if the barbers
1840?” Mills muses.
Childhood memories of time spent
barbering may have been one of the
preferred occupations during slavery, but
false
6
317 Main Street in downtown
at
shops
served
only white patrons, by
these enclaves
places for
were
black
barber (played
1940
known as
gathering
“Eddie,” the elder
men.
by Cedric the Entertainer)
in the popular 2002 movie
Barbershop,
declared these shops “the place where
a black man
means
something, the
of the
cornerstone
neighborhood,
the
Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday
black man’s country club.” How did this
Talk and Black Political
quantum leap
Thought
(Princeton University Press, 2006).
“It got
shops
me
had
wondering if black barber
always been these kind of
bustling
spaces of conversation and
economic
activity in black communities.
Whatwould a black-owned barber
shop
Among
occur
in roughly
variety
points to two
a
of
a century?
developments,
Pres
Pensylvani
of
University
of
courtesy
image
Cover
//
converged
Ab ot
toward the close of the 19th century. One
Coleg-John
Mills
was
an
infusion of white men
ing—both newly
grants
that
hungry
into barber-
arrived white immi-
for whatever work
they
Vas ar
©
could
and “native” whites.
find,
“They
with black barbers for those
competed
wealthy white
patrons in downtown
by attempting to ‘professionthe trade,” Mills explains. For
you, we
He had
white barbers
example,
organizers
International Union of
lobbied
America,
legislatures to
state
attend
to
pass
barber’s
a
many of whichwould not
The second
prompted by
which
licensing
other things, required
laws which, among
barbers
leading
were
of the Journeymen Barbers’
college,
admit blacks.
significant change
the rise of
was
and
Jim Crow,
in the attitudes of black barbers
came
born after the Civil War.
“They were
much less connected and interested in
opening shops
they opened
for white
Instead,
men.
of business.”
out
much easier time
a
southern barbers after he
America
alize’
would be
Noted
historian
talking
cut
and
to
a
of the death penalty. He
history
having
to
that
assume
Crow forced them
out
districts, though we
cannot
the statistics and
but
especially
dense and
was
working on
expanded
He
for
a
a
first book.
Quincy
very ambitious
across
huge
a
canvas.
terrain
chronologically as well as geographically.
“I was
impressed to the point of
awestruck by how he wove
all of this
Yet,
had different ideas of how
black barber shop should be
As
black barbers
more
sweeping stories,
can
get lost in the
the
personal
grand
stories
sweep.”
grew
to
was
black
deeper,
this
is
job
getting
sought
a
Mills
writes, they
a
out
a
time
were
in their 70s
that
Many of
South, provided
or
in the
War
80s.
them, especially
Mills quite a reality check when he
initially introduced
himself and his
Congress
in the
members
been invaluable.
on
office’s
our
a
almost every document
primary source,” he reports.
Murphy, Mills acknowledges
debt
special
to
an
undergraduate
as
he
a
in business
It should
Mills
come
as
surprise
no
brings history’s
own
—to
in the classroom. “What stands
is the way he combines
facts’ with his
George,
and
business, medicine,
or
the
study of
intriguing
interest
explains. “Yet,
as
that
many of my electives.”
occupied
an
That interest proved
so
strong that
out
length independent research project
with history professor Juliet E.K. Walker
the
personal experience
senior Katharine
major
enter
success
in his senior year Mills did
and
urban studies
an
planned to
life
‘teaching
knowledge,” explains
I had
history served
smaller personal
stories —including his
color,
like
law,” Mills
a
the
at
of Illinois. “Like many
field with markers of
mobility,
that
completing
was
who
a
thesis-
(now at the University of Texas at
of Mound
Austin) on the all-black town
The piece won
both
competition and a
Bayou, Mississippi.
assisted Mills with research for his book.
a
History major Adam Murphy ’lO was
particularly shaped by Mills’s prowess
national award. Professor Walker
the grooming business, and you don’t
look
and dedication
project wearing
Mills recalls
groomed.”
does it
me
cut
a
mean
about
his hair in dreadlocks.
Supreme
resources
turns
case
students of
date.”
post-Civil
of
and by
barbers,
generation
of
by faculty
has
bachelor’s degree
barbers for oral
the
a
University
interviews in such locales
represented
the
to
Library
instilled
direction
was
as
history
Cleveland, Philadelphia, Richmond,
Atlanta, and Durham. These men
trips
history professor—though in Mills’s
she steered him in an unexpected
case
new
neatly groomed
getting
or
the
Like
face and head could be the difference
in
take
to
investigative
defense work,
creating a respectable
masculinity.” Moreover, he
a
to
research. And in criminal
organized.”
of barbers I
argued a relevant case
Supreme Court. “He also
Mills,
“Often
away of
writes, “For the set
looking to interview,
attorney John Charles
find rich primary
like
defining principle: “Grooming black
men
the
to
manuscript divisions,” Murphy reports.
Murphy says the commitment to dig
Jim
frankly
a
me
“going
interview with
an
had
before the U.S.
pushed
observe
urged Murphy to
record
to
Court and
modern
embrace
to
Mills also
the Vassar tradition of
sought business
among their peers, Mills
collectively
a
its statistical implications in a very
straightforward and practical way.”
Boger, who
individuals,”
“Sometimes in these
notes.
understanding
study, which was quite
lengthy, and then explained
without losing track of the
he
was
the
source,”
leading civil rights
argue with
generation of black barbers
the Baldus
through
“I
recalls,
methodology behind
study. [Quincy] read
material together, and yet he had done so
of downtown
the power of discrimination.
new
difficult time
a
department colleague James Merrell
calls Cutting Along the Color Line “a
work of unusualbreadth for any book,
their
mistake
discrimination in Georgia’s application
his hair.
shops in black
Mills
explains. “It
communities,”
would be
that demonstrated racial
major study
barber
saying,
“I’m in
Another asked, “What
that
you’re here to talk to
barbering, but you haven’t
your hair in I don’t know how
long?”
Mills also remembers
“If
were
we
depending
on
hearing,
people like
Now
at
as
a
thesis adviser.
the Center for
Litigation,
a
Appellate
Manhattan-based public
campus essay
encouraged him to consider history
a profession.
Today, Mills completes the mentoring circle
with students such
as
as
defender’s office that advocates for
Murphy, who declares, “Quincy pushes
indigent criminal defendants, Murphy
examined, as part of his thesis, a
his students
thorough
to
be the
best,
most
versions of themselves.”
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
7
SOLVING COMPLEX PUZZLES
IN THE LAB AND IN LIFE
By Julia Van Develder
1665, British
In
Hooke
what we
scientist Robert
the first
was
knowto
now
observe
to
be the basic
How do
apart
living things—the cell.
almost
It would be
centuries before scientists
two
recorded the
groundbreaking
biology—that all
composed of cells, that all
composed of cells, and that
next
immediate
applications,
plants
are
from preexisting cells.
come
discoveries,
cellular
a
organism
class of molecules that plays
comprise
cell,
as a
orange
ALWAYS
TO
So you
think
can
gatekeepers.”
protein chemistry,
and
runs
an
research program that
student researchers. “There
degrees of separation
active
involves
are
six
between what I
potential good
that could
of it in
practice,” says Garrett.
with
regard to a certain
“Basically,
class of lipids called headgroup acylated
they
are
I want
to
understand
made and what
they
do.
what effect does that have
on
the cell?”
How did she become interested in
up, I was
science and
lipid chemistry? “Growing
kind of
always
math kid,”
I
nerdy
a
says Garrett. “But whenever
bigger, organismal
exposed to
was
ecosystem kinds of things, I either
couldn’t wrap
or
my mind around it. And
the
the other end—the super
on
quantum side of
But whenever I
exposed
things.
exposed
was
same
small,
to
cell
stuff—proteins and lipids and enzymes
and seemed cool.”
it all made sense
A
AND
IT
ALL
MADE
Poughkeepsie
native who moved
Florida State University with the
to
SENSE."
—Teresa
family to Florida when she
high school, Garrett went
in
was
Garrett
intentionof
school.
They actually
of the Vassar
phospholipids,
was
PROTEINS, LIPIDS,
ENZYMES,
living
faculty
in
2007, Garrett teaches courses
general chemistry, biochemistry, and
some
KID.
“They
are
the
—they
same
build
things,
they break things down in order to
grow, reproduce, maintain themselves,
and respond to environmentalchanges.
since
do and
MATH
Can
antibiotics?
with her
and
how
NERDY
on
key
of the
Ilustraion
©
A
temps?
to
—
out.
A member
AND
Whenever I
in and what gets
sort
exposed
they
change the lipid composition,
subatomic,
of them
lipid
Vas ar
OF
was
the phospholipids are
courtesy
Coleg-John
I
up,
KIND
SCIENCE
cells
as
temps and low
they handlebeing
And if we
slower? Can
they grow
high
at
wasn’t interested
define a cell, and theyregulate what gets
come
adult human being,
an
"Growing
says Garrett. “If you thinkof
like the skin of the orange.
Ab ot
a
the cell membrane in all
organisms,”
//
80-trillion-cell
an
way from
role in the cell—phospholipids.
an
like
or
about
and function has
Teresa Garrett’s research is focused
one
unicellularorganism like
a
do
or
grow
or
having a solid underhow
cells actually work.
standing of
Associate Professor of Chemistry
long
important piece
the basic metabolic functions of their
increased exponentially. But we’re still
a
medical
or
half since those
knowledge
our
structure
an
have
not
how the cells function. Do they grow as
fast,
in the complex puzzle of cell mechanics.
Whether it’s
In the century and
of
but it is
taking
how it works.”
see
pharmaceutical
Escherichia coli
are
all cells
Cayman
to
discoveries in cell
animals
Company
Chemical
toaster
kid
a
Garrett’s research may
structural and functional unit of
all
a
actually
these machines
work? It’s almost like
as
“By
eventually going
second
the summer, and from
her model organism, Garrett and her
that time on, it
studying the biosynthesis
and function of headgroup acylated
phospholipids—how the cell builds
this particular phospholipid and what
it does. “There’s
an
cells that are
going
I
on
so
we
genetically mutated
to
be
If I wasn’t in
Her
career
plan
going to go
then I’m going to
of the enzyme than
then I’m
normal. Then we
ask
in
questions about
class,
‘l’m
cells that have more
can
clear what I
working
was
in the lab.
—
then I’m
we
was
do. I loved
to
also have
missing
the enzyme, and
get
over
just spent all my time in the lab
weekends, early in the morning.
enzyme in the cell
that makes this phospholipid,
semester
was
for him
are
medical
freshman
doing independent research
in biochemistry, and sophomore
with a biology
year I began working
professor, Lloyd Epstein. I worked
year I
With E. coli (the “tame lab strain”)
students
to
to
at
I
in the lab.”
was
age 20: “I
thought,
graduate school,
and
get a great postdoc, and
going to
start
my
own
lab,
and
win the Nobel Prize
going
chemistry!’ And then
to
VASSAR
life
happens.”
QUARTERLY
9
She earned her PhD from Duke
in 1998 and gave birth
University
daughter Ariane
months later.
two
“I took four years off
have my
kids,”
daughter,
to
Garrett, whose second
Madeline, was born in 2000.
says
decision
take
to
You’re in this
hiatus
a
to
“The
lonely.
was
environment where
everyone around you has decided to
work while they have their babies and
put them in
to
want
and I didn’t
daycare,
do that. So it felt
to
then I found
that I
out
lonely.
Many, many
people have done it —female
scientists
whom I really respected and
great had done the
were
At that
point, she and her spouse,
at
a
Chris, and their daughters were
crossroads. If they were
going to make
a
thought
their
they’re
in
women
for that matter
—or
done this before. I
ever
say
or
their postdoc adviser, I
their spouse
can
or
I’ve
participated
LAB
HER
BIOCHEM
IS
off,
teaching
well
as
the
from
Nigeria, has
with Garrett and
lab second
semester
and I’m kind of
a
“Basically,
just
2003,
happy person!
than one
back
went
part of her
coordinating
way
to
to
began teaching
biochemistry course
session
1
really
at
an
Duke. “I think that is where
church,
up
was
and one
that
one
of the
at
things that
our
came
of my big strengths is
mentoring. And I realized that that was
the part of my job that I liked the most
—
getting
the
undergraduates
about
all excited
biochemistry and science, and
helping the graduate students figure out
WINTER
she did!” says
201
4
really
taking me,’
Sopeyin.
and
“It has been
a
spoon-feed
you. She challenges you. And you don’t
really
understandthe worth of that until
where you started
from and how much
got the
Gifts and Talents program
T think your research is
you look back and see
summer
teaching bug,” she says.
Her church also played a role in
clarifying her career
goals. “We have
a
her office and
to
great experience. She doesn’t
undergraduate
during the
went
cool. Please consider
course
her
freshman year.
work in
postdoc involved
courses
began working in
said,
for medical school students, and she
also
I
taken several
do this!”
basic science
a
So
my research. So for
perfect combination.”
Anu Sopeyin ’l5, a biochemistry major
me, Vassar is
I got
When she
a job, and (b) I
publish papers,
that
doing
expect
to
and what you should
This wasn’t like that.”
day
see.
of the way, they had
consider and decisions
Funded
by
you’ve grown.”
Vassar’s
Center for
Collaborative Approaches
(which
is in
turn
from the Howard
Institute),
Garrett
to
funded by
Science
a
grant
Hughes Medical
completelyredesigned
the lab
component of the 200-level
biochemistry class last year. “We focused
particular protein,
called CMP kinase,” she
on
is
a
an
some
an
enzyme
says. “This
understudied enzyme—there
things
that
are
are
known about it,
options
make. And
to
the outcome? “It
says
Garrett. “At the
their
choke back
was
amazing,”
end, when they did
so
I
tears.
proud
I had
amazed
was
at
and how deeply
they were
they had thought about
their projects
and how
presentations
was
how well I did with my
on
as
(c)
more
instructions about what you should be
teaching the lab
much
so
put their
they
And
doing
to
the
it the other
I
actually
can
no
never
way.”
regrets about
she’s taken. “I like that
path
career
this way
fun—l will
more
Garrett says she has
evaluated
in pairs,
cookbook—very straightforward
a
go back
in that and I make
time
course.
together.
"amazing."
says it
Hampshire,
and they give you the lab, and it’s like
to
says,
biochemistry
a
completely
“Usually you work
was
a
a
experiment.”
an
oral presentations, I was
CLASS.
she
about this
’l5,
from New
how engaged
The outcome,
together panel
graduate students.
I
REDESIGNED
COMPONENT
got tenure, and
there’s
10
THE
can
those people know that I took
(a)
Garrett
year,
design
question
a
answer
different from the usual
to
Last
to
Sam Verbanic
Every step
OF
sure
and
good teacher mattered,”
place where I would be
COMPLETELY
you do with
PhD?’ and they put
for postdocs and
a
she says, “a
their
year, NYU has
program called ‘What
a
be soon.”
to
colleges.
where being
back, and other people have
back, and they’re very successful.
“Every other
it’s got
too,
only considered posts at liberal
“I wanted to be someplace
Garrett
arts
them to
want
mentor
come
said, okay,
we
really hard,
up with
come
enzyme and
lab
so
in
to
they wanted
be when
to
one’s
to
come
had
and middle school is
want
be able
to
they developed purification protocols,
developed assays, and they
major
young men,
think that no
—to
it
much
a
visible way because I don’t
other young
still in elementary
want
don’t know.
we
and they
high school because then
you’re going to have to pay for therapy,
something
more
do it when
to
lot
a
So the students worked in groups, and
thing,
same
identity
they
daughters were
school. “You don’t
only 20 years earlier. So I’ve made
a
point of having this be
that’s part of my
wanted
move,
but there’s also
to
function in this intense environment.”
the
not
was
person who invented this.
But
their experiments, but how
just
not
take the time
with my students in
a
to
interact
personal way—-
if it’s saying something like,
even
‘Hey—you’re crashing and burning in
my class. What’s
can
spend
going
on?’ I like that I
helping them with their
time
work, suggesting different approaches
the material, reminding them that
they should sleep. I like that I get to
to
be that kind of person instead of the
kind who says, ‘Get
I have
make
a
grant
of my
out
write.’
to
Feeling
office,
that I
difference in the lives of these
a
students is the
thing that I like the best.
And when I talk about my
my group from
see
this
doing,
has
as
me
job with
church, that’s where I
doing what
I should be
where I feel that my
being here
positive impact on their lives.”
And clearly, it does. “She’s
my role
model,” says Sopeyin. “She’s a mom,
a
she’s
she
on
a
professor,
definitely
she’s
And
a runner.
mentors me, not
science but life. So for
me
only
it’s like
whole round experience, and I
grateful for that.”
a
am
REEXAMINING REBELLION
By Glen Johnson
The
academic
life
is
of
one
quiet contemplation
leisurely conversation, of long, pleasant hours
spent doing research in the splendid surroundings
and
of wonderful
We
certainly
of
an
do
involving
think
not
academic
libraries.
career
extended
as
forays
into territories ruled
by
armed rebels
in the middle of civil
wars.
Yet that is
precisely
where Zachariah Cherian
Mampilly
could be found
the research for his
doing much of
book, Rebel Rulers:
Insurgent Governance and Civilian Life
during
War,
published by
Press in 2011.
University
the dangers
Ab ot
Coleg-John
Vas ar
©
the Cornell
Reflecting
apparent in such
on
help
department
quickly established a
as
a
promoted
an
to
associate
luck and
tenured
professor
position
of
as
political
studies,
and
legions
was
intellectualhome
an
of African leaders and
at
Tufts and his
at
a
graduate
work
Columbia and UCLA. He took leave
visiting
es
to
spend
student at
his
the
junior year
University
a
visiting faculty
a
generations of
As
era.
in
a
a
postcolonial
student, Mampilly enrolled
yearlong
seminar with Ernest
Wamba dia Wamba,
a
leading
African
theorist then in exile from
political
his native
Congo.
In the
developed
a
course
close
of the
relationship
with Wamba dia Wamba and his
family
and absorbed many of his
lessons about the
political challenges
as
confronting
of
marginalized people
only in Africa
but throughout the Afro-Asian world
Salaam in Tanzania and later
as
for
of Africa moved into the
year, he
completed his undergraduate
returned
good
a
Africana studies.
that
dose of
Vassar, he
strong
international
science,
Dar
healthy
science
reputation
teacher and scholar, and was recently
pitfalls
pointing you towards
what’s important.” And he observes
a
political
in 2007. At
from Tufts
while
university
for
African revolutionaries as wide swaths
the Vassar
joined
the
the
The
he
work
you “avoid
stereotype.
breeding ground
the importance of
Mampilly notes
cultivating “knowledgeable networks on
can
help.
the
Mampilly was already well into the
study of insurgent governance when
He
that
goes
American passport may also
an
locales,
ground”
So
member.
oppressed, and
poor,
not
and
beyond.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
11
Mampilly's research has taken him from the Congo—where hundredsof thousands of civilians have been displaced by
civil war—to Sudan and Sri Lanka.
Not
long
his work
after
Tufts, Wamba
at
left Tanzania to
this time
Mampilly
as
return
to
challenging
government. The
became
extended
the
existing
test
African history. To
that seemed
ideological
sharply
at
odds
commitment
to
territory for
Mampilly
well they meet
of time.
of governance. He tries “to
really
to
of their nonviolent
look at how well they
at actually doing the things that
they suggest that they are fighting for in
the first
place, namely
improve
to
those who
are
of resistance
them.” In a
“a lot
more
on
resistance
or
Mampilly
research his first
during
their frequently
violent conflicts with regimes in power.
The book combines
sophisticated
theoretical analysis of the
Western models of
during
roots
extensive field work in
and often
family roots
of rebel
disparate
dangerous settings. With
in South India, Mampilly
describes himself as
movements
large
tracts
examines
“Africanist by
dispenses justice?
Who builds
maintains roads and
bridges?
the schools?
Focusing
His field work has taken him into
reviewer and Pomona
insurgent territory on both continents,
in the Congo, Sudan, and Sri Lanka,
bridging the boundaries academics have
For
divide the world.
analysts, rebellion normally means
violence and chaos. In
Mampilly’s words,
largely
of
WINTER
2014
usually pictured
is
missing clearly
objectives—as unrest
Mampilly
whether violent
or
challenges tendencies
either “to romanticize the actions of
organization,
goals and
defined
of
political
the West.
or
seems
an
accurate
protest in either Africa
Moreover, he believes that
when protest
to
than protest.
more
argues that neither of these
formulations provides
picture
it
different spaces, different times, differ-
rather inchoate,
as
in focus and
lacking
even
nonviolent.” He
violence and terrorism.”
these tasks
protest in Africa and sometimes in Asia
that looks like in different contexts,
through
wanton
and
runs
in the words of
manifestations,
control
often
governance within a broader concern
for “the idea of resistance and what
ent
the lens of pure destruction
on
Who
‘nonstates’,”
College professor
of African politics Pierre Englebert.
Mampilly situates his work on rebel
armed groups have been “treated
and
protest
actions
of
“rare and nuanced look into
training and South Asian by heritage.”
traditionally used to
political
to
territory for
periods. Mampilly
how
they govern.
extended
provides a
the politics
an
Who
linked
organized
usually
by established political
organizations pursuing reasonably welldefined objectives. By contrast, political
Rebel
with observations made
movements
war.
question of nonviolent
rather resistance that
book,
examination of the varied ways
rebel movements
relate to the civilians
an
they encounter
under circumstances of civil
polit-
many violent
of traditional functions of government
to
on
aspects to nonviolentresistance as well.”
Wamba dia Wamba in class and in
led
demonize
as, of course, there are
structured
contrast
to
book
armed group
areas.” He
conversation. Puzzling about the
the
organized by
not
the
performance
or
an
is
are
the
projects
forthcoming
conditions of civilians who live in these
explores
in these types
engaged
ical protest in Africa, he intends to focus
improve the conditions of civilian life
so
persuasively and sincerely articulated
by
12
the
succeed
Mampilly
of
tracts
understand some
aspects,
recent
large
periods
examines how and how
violent and
most
brutal in
with the
and govern
Congo,
often control
movements
the
Congolese insurgency
of the
one
But rebel
dia Wamba
top official in the rebel
a
movement
resumed
seems
fade away
or
to
fail, when
is
suppressed,
Mathews
Pres-Bbto
Featurs/Aocid
Rex
O'Maley,
actually achieve substantial
by changing political discourse,
Pres-Hathclif
by creating a climate for subsequent
political action or reform. In this sense
Asociated
it may
success
he views political protest less
more
part of
as
a
The
political activity.
and
Mampilly, who
a
in point,
case
maintains his home
observes that it
provided
good deal of the thematic background
in the
a
Occupy
recent
in the U.S. is
movement
episodic,
as
sustained pattern of
Bronx,
for Bill de Blasio’s hugely successful
in New York
mayoral campaign
In the classroom,
Mampilly
City.
has found
groups of students and colleagues responsive
to
the breadth of his
and
concerns
only
not
to
his
to
of the
some
disciplinary
interests, a testimony
teaching skill but also
area
changes
Vassar
at
over
the years. When this reporter joined
the faculty in 1964, the curriculum
in the humanities and social sciences
structured almost exclusively by
was
academic
highly
on
discipline
Eurocentric. No
and remained
focused
courses
Africa, very few touched on
Latin America. There
were
no
Asia
or
multidis-
ciplinary programs —only a handful of
tackled issues from the
special courses
perspective of multiple disciplines. By
the time Mampilly joined the faculty in
and the African
2007, Africa
Diaspora
had become the focus of teaching and
research for
group of
and
remarkably talented
a
faculty
teaching
with strong
training
programs in
disciplines. Thriving
Asian
studies,
studies,
studies offered students
tunities alongside
a
studies,
Latin
and international
American
special
oppor-
wide variety of other
multidisciplinary programs spanning
the humanities, the social sciences,
and many other sciences as well.
Mampilly found intellectualexcite-
working
ment
colleagues
His
own
with the students and
in several of these programs.
work
cut
across
the
disciplinary
boundaries of
political science, history,
anthropology, and Asian and African
studies,
among others. In
program
dealing
introductory
in the international studies
courses
as
well
as
advanced
courses
with contemporary civil wars,
challenged students to think about
global issues in new
ways. Taking
transnationalism seriously as a starting point, Mampilly emphasized the
he
nation-state
Occupy
Wall Street that
to lack focus still may
seem
change
commitments in almost
all of the social science and humanities
Africana
Movements like
political discourse, Mampilly says.
paradigm
as
the main
of the national and individual
source
identities that
understanding
shape our
of the modern world but went
how these
how
on
to
they obscure
smaller identity
to
“show
inadequate,”
the
of even
try
categories
are
“emergence
movements
conceptualize themselves
alternate
and
Questioning
and community
legacies of
and
“It
undercuts
for students.
everything they’ve
events
the Civil
“So,”
a
examine the
he says, “I feel like I
plan for how my
be
to
Act and the
Rights
50 years
Voting Rights Act,
dominance of the nation-state
political
paradigm can be unsettling
as
helping to revise the curriculum
plan a yearlong series of campus
into
the Tamils in Sri Lanka have done.
now
additional responsibilities
on
director of the Africana Studies program,
and is
as
and
of his students, Mampilly has
taken
that
political arrangements,”
the intellectual
deeply committed to the
intellectual and personal development
agenda
next
on.
already have
three years will
spent.” His students and colleagues
be happy that those years will be
learned about their identities, origin of
can
nationalism and
nationality,
of who they
as
spent further enriching the intellectual
climate at Vassar and beyond.
are
the
core
individuals.” So,
he says, he asks his students, including
those from the U.S., “Do you consider
And many
with the meaning of
Glen
yourselves postcolonial?
where
times they
struggle
Johnson
he
is
professor emeritus
taught as
Professor
of Political
that identity because they don’t feel that
Relations
and
that’s a category that
of the
applies
to
them.
But all I’m saying is it’s historical fact.”
Well into
an
ambitious research
served
was
a
and
as
Vassar,
Boskey
International
acting president
distinguished visiting
professor
at the
and
a Fulbright scholar
twice
at
Shirley Eckert
Science
twice
college. He
the
American
VASSAR
University in Cairo
in India.
QUARTERLY
13
Putting Resilience
to the Test
By Julia Van Develder
Happiness. Over the centuries, philosophers, theologians,
political theorists, sociologists, humanists, and psychologists
have
attempted to define it and offer prescriptions for how to
achieve it. But the scientific
known
The field of
study officially began
Seligman,
the Zellerbach
Psychology
Pennsylvania,
his
term
as
the
University
declared it
president
Psychological
Michele
Family Professor
at
a
of
focus of
of the American
Association.
ground
of the research and
most
on
disorders,”
theory
psychological
Tugade,
of psychology are
areas
says
still
But
obviously
hugely important.
positive psychology seeks to understand
well-being. What
the conditions and
are
characteristics that enable us
to
thrive
be resilient?”
be confused with “positive
to
thinking” of the Norman Vincent Peak
variety, positive psychology is not a self-
help technique, but
discipline.
a
Much of
rigorous scientific
Tugade’s work and
Coleg-John
Vas ar
©
(with
a
with
Kirby)
foreward by Barbara Fredrickson,
one
of the pioneers of positive psychology.
Tugade
began working
Fredrickson when she
was
a
with
doctoral
research
evolutionary
as
they
fear
evolution-
some
of survival,” says
“But positive emotions have the
opposite physiological
physiological
effect.
They
arousal.” That
and
‘undo’
“undoing”
mental
computers available
you
says
of cardiovascular arousal,
state
geared to either fight or flee,”
Tugade. “Other behaviors aren’t
really
option
an
received five prompts
answer
a
series of
emotional
state
prompted,
given neutral activity
did you walk
experimental
showed
in
postdoc
at
the Interdisciplinary
Affective Sciences Laboratory at Boston
College, Tugade joined
Vassar,
the faculty
where she teaches
courses
at
in
psychology, individual differences,
health psychology and directs
that
at
but also in
to
was
prompts, such
last
prompted,
did
not
only
study,
the
cognitive flexibility.
Maggie
O’Haire ’OB
research assistant
now
University
on
PhD candidate
a
of
Queensland),
the
from
experimental group went
predominantly analytic thinking to
dialectical thinking. “Basically,
more
and
analytic thinking
Psychophysiology
class?”
self-reportedlevels of emotional well-
social
the Emotions and
last
were
group
significant differences,
(Tugade’s
a
to
appreciate your surroundings?”
After two
weeks, the participants
quickly.”
After
to
about their
you
According
more
questions
given positive activity
being
baseline
during the day
prompts, such as, “Since you
experiments showed that inducing
positive emotion enabled our subjects
to
that time —PDAs
and their activities. The
control group was
Our
return
hand-held
and control groups. Both groups
are
until you calm down.
at
experi-
new
(personal digital assistants). The particdivided into experimental
ipants were
as, “Since you were
ened
a
methodology, using
tage of flexibility. “If you are
height-
stress
adversity.
while the
a
on
coping
and the mechanisms that
stress
effect, Tugade and Fredrickson, et ah
theorize, confers the evolutionary advanin
emotions in
Tugade pioneered
at
physiological fight-or-flight
advantages in terms
Tugade.
to
,
Ab ot
ary
the past decade is
presented
forthcoming
ofPositive Emotions coedited by Tugade
a
positive
positive
investigate the evolutionary
response, which confers
researchers
Handbook
the
on
the role of
promote resilience in the face of
survival of the human
early
Her research focuses
Laboratory.
with
positive emotions play.
negative emotion such
arouses
a
M. T. Shiota and L.D.
field
do with
“A
positive psychology
in the
to
benefits of negative emotions, but
the work of other
over
to
Much of the
species.
role
“and those
Not
emotions
of
in the 20th century was
to
initial work together had
the critical contribution of
wanted to
Michigan, got in on the
emerging field. “The
have collaborated
two
studies since. Their
numerous
Tugade ’95, then a doctoral
psychology at the
ailments and
and
on
floor of this
focus of
and the
student,
the time focused
student in social
University
a new
positive psychology.
as
in 1998 when Martin
of
study of happiness is
two
is
where,
opposing viewpoints,
VASSAR
if you have
you need
QUARTERLY
to
15
and blood pressure and
respiration,
how those
measure
physiological
depending on the
responses vary
circumstances. In another experiment,
she
film
uses
clips
the
to
end.
same
another, participants
In still
asked
are
public speech. “Public
speaking is something that always and
reliably elicits a stress response,” Tugade
to
a
prepare
says. “You see an immediate rise in heart
and blood pressure and respiration.
rate
This
but
important
damaging to the body if
for a long period of time.
response is
stress
be
can
sustained
The
these studies is
goal of
what people
the
down-regulate
Some
naturally adept
Michele Tugade, center, with research associate Alta du Pont and
Chelsea Boccagno 'l4.
pick
said in
feel
to
one
a
thinking
is
find
is where you
Alta du
appreciate
can
complexity and be
comfortable with it, and find
middle
a
just by focusing on the positive
daily activities, the participants were
broadening their cognitive abilities.”
then, Tugade has continued the
but
project,
cell phones
to
using text-messaging
now
instead of PDAs. Scores
who works with
Du
Pont,
degree
ultimately
positive strategies to cope
to
as taking a moment
consider something they’re thankful for.
to
Tugade
to
the research.
on
who earned
psychology
a
University, hopes
clinical practice. She
enter
intervention
texting
because it translates into
exciting
concrete
“We
outcomes.
for
found,
that
participants who use
positive strategies reported fewer
is
resiliency
partly hereditary,
these messages,
to
exposure
While the literature suggests that
in the limited two-week time
frame, yields encouraging results.
“We bring those students back into
they
connected
socially
also report fewer
issues,”
Tugade,
says
others,
to
physical
who
health
that
notes
social support has been shown to
marker of resilience.
“Doing
mobile
is
technology
individuals
positive
one
recognize
to
emotions
this
and
be
it is
way to train
and appreciate
in their lives.”
While the literature suggests that
resiliency
these
is
least
experiments
skill that
WINTER
at
201
can
4
partly hereditary,
suggest that it is
be learned. “Practice
not, says
trying
identify
the markers. What
that
resilience? What
helps
Tugade.
to
do
are
these
is
them achieve
find is that when
we
experience positive emotions
like gratitude, contentment, or
you
—
serenity—in the midst of a stressful
experience, you are more resilient, and
we
can
that physiologically.”
measure
In addition
markers of
and
Pont,
assistants
physiological
resilience, Tugade,
du
undergraduate
research
looking
cognitive
are
such
markers,
the
to
at
mindfulness. “Work
as
lab and others shows that
our
people
who
emotions
are
are
more
more
their emotions
of their
aware
skillful
using
at
achieve particular
to
a
skill that
be learned.
can
says Tugade.
This isn’t to say that
that
all aim for
a
Pollyanna
should
we
outlook
at
cautions. “You
times, Tugade
imagine a particular
health symptoms —fewer
less
like
dizziness, things
Subjects
also
reported
headaches,
that,”
better
she says.
sleep quality.
The text-message
a
through
are
lab is
our
people doing
up
goals,”
Tugade’s experiments suggest
laboratory, and they report feeling
more
more
under stress,
even
“What
in
use
Repeated
a
a
says she finds the
the
the
trying
practice?” says
postbaccalaureate
from Princeton
ongoing experiment, receiving as many
as five daily text
messages encouraging
even
key,
Pont,
example,
them to
and we’re
How much
out;
of students have taken part in this
with stress, such
16
the
whereas others
research associate and lab manager
more
way. So
Since
really
2008 interview. “Dialectical
and
contrast
O’Haire
comfortable,”
emotions
are
conjuring
at
to
response.”
stress
participants
positive
examine
to
psychologically
do
can
one
way
Tugade
resiliency to
the
is
test.
experiment is just
putting emotional
In another
study,
she induces emotional reactions
exposing
lab
participants
to
by
music that
evokes
positive emotions (Vivaldi’s
Spring concerto) or negative emotions
(Barber’s Adagio for Strings). Sensors
monitor the
subject’s
heart rate,
it
might
smile
on
your
hard
too
be
make
not
to
be
is
try
she says.
positive
undermining.
Tugade
sense
face,”
in which
context
to
all
can
can
to
put
a
“Trying
actually
Balance is the
key.”
who practices what
one
she
preaches and the results have been
(pun intended) positive. “There’s a lot
that I’ve learned from my research,”
she says. “Several times a
day I think
of
something
That’s
one
that I’m
grateful for.
of the benefits of
work like this.”
doing
(c)
Ab ot
Colan-Jh
Vas r
The Politics of
Memory
IN LATIN AMERICA AND BEYOND
...
By Julia Van Develder
SOUTH
plate
f you
want
Science
the Frederick Ferris
expect
can
talk to Katherine Hite, Professor of Political
to
on
a
little bit of
hike. She’s
a
floor of Rockefeller Hall in
Thompson Chair,
a
closet of
an
view of the campus.
you
the fourth
on
with
office,
Seemingly far
and
that re-democratized in the
regimes
passionately interested
social
progressive
she spent most
The
movements.
in political
daughter of
of her growing-up years in Texas in
the talk but the action centered
just
—unionizing workers in the oil industry,
protesting police brutality against blacks and Latinos, agitating
for women’s rights. “My family and I would go to Mexico
fairly frequently, and I was fascinated by what was happening
around leftist
be elected
not
causes
that side of the
leadership
to
says Hite. “Leftists could
border,”
actually
in Latin America! So I’ve been
interested in Latin American
long, long time.”
University, Hite
three
think
the
Institute for
at
a progressive
tank,
spent
years
Studies
before
in Washington, DC,
Policy
enrolling in the School
After
graduating with
politics for
a
bachelor’s from Duke
a
of International and Public Affairs
Columbia
at
University.
“My plan was to get a master’s and then go back and fight
the fight on Capitol Hill against U.S. military aid to El Salvador
and the Contra War in Nicaragua,” says Hite. But her professors
for her doctorate. “I
at Columbia convinced her to continue on
that I would be
imagined
a
she says, “but right
professor,”
was
working at
after I defended my dissertation and
of Latin American Studies
posted,
and I
Columbia,
at
she had
idea how hard it
no
graduate
school
teacher,”
she says. “It
a
was
not
the
‘That would be
thought,
Hite says that when she first
be
to
came
was
place
a
to
be
that
was
place
a neat
Vassar
to
be.’”
Vassar 15 years ago,
good teacher. “My
taught you how to be a
a
taught because
hardest thing about the first few years for
teaching voice,
the Institute
job here at
assumed that you
scholar and that you
going
were
you had
me
my pedagogical voice. I looked
was
at
to.
to
So the
finding
my
great teachers
campus and realized that you can’t just replicate what they
do because how they teach is
inextricably connected to who
on
they
are.
So I had to
has been
WINTER
teaches
an
2014
figure
out
that since
what my own
pedagogical
voice
Her
to
courses
on
a
passionate
are
modern
political
violence.
typically fully subscribed,
probably safe to say that any Vassar
political
is
Thompson
pending entrance
full
a
fabulous teacher,” says
science
grad.
working
as
a
freelance writer in
about the
movement
to
is because of her social
now
push for
I’m
reason
issues to
studies,
’l4,
own
mode of social
“What’s
really interesting about
it partly
as
for
as
justice
the seminar is that she treats
for her
as
an
opportunity
up-and-coming academics
issues and
to
as
an
trauma
and
academic and
work through
our
about violence and
trauma,” says
Dann. “We each have individual projects we’re working on,
and it’s been really, really helpful to be able to
bring those
into the class and incorporate them into the discussion.”
own
Dann, who
a
member of
questions
work.”
and
justice
political violence.
on
class about theories of violence and
partly
us
these
One of
independent major in peace
an
is enrolled in Hite’s seminar
a
bring
Saul
was
form my ideas for my
Naomi Dann
he
public.
Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals—wing organizing. That book really helped
read
his bible for left
what
social
create
a vehicle—like the
press —to
the forefront and put them before the
we
living
class,”
without
the books
a
doing
movements
says. “I learned from that class that you can’t
change
Chicago,
University of Chicago Law School
fall. He’s working on an article for
scholarship next
doing
class
Juan Thompson ’l3,
“I took four classes with her.”
wage for fast-food workers. “The
also
over-
student
into the
Chicago magazine
me
Hite
on
strong interest in social justice has taken at least one
a recent
I’m
politics,
a course
on
a
to
about my work.”
Latin American
senior seminar
a
keys
are
and often
with Hite. “She’s
on
elements
two
introductory political science,
courses
with
these
teacher—and being
good
In addition
is the president of the Vassar
working
on
transmission of fear and
“I’m looking
Jewish Union and also
student organization called Students for Justice
a
in Palestine, is
at
a
project about the transgenerational
trauma
in Israel and the Middle East.
the Jewish narrative of victimization and this
idea that Israel is the guarantee of security for the Jewish people
and how that fear is
“Eve been
talking
to
IVlaya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, shown above,
memorial building around the world.
in
upsurge
Hite, left, says
18
a
combination of intellectual rigor and
subscribed. It’s
household where
was
being
an
a
think, for me,
the dictatorial
socialists,
never
of humor. I
social movements, and
struggles
on
sense
idyllic, ivory-tower
above the fray—but actual ly very much in the thick of it.
A scholar of Fatin American politics, particularly
late 20th century, Hite is
a
and I think it’s
is,
producing
a
lot of
violence,” says Dann.
a lot, trying to
Professor Hite about it
was
constructed in 1982, there
work
also
on
political ideas about the conflict, and
my own
find ways to make the conversation about it
through
trying to
campus
Tough
productive and
little bit more
a
issues. Difficult
different kinds of
less
“Many of
questions.
and violences in
traumas
us
have suffered
lives,”
our
concern
working to
where we
we
says
in the seminar
create
feel safe
can
create
on
political violence —a
share
enough to
some
of
difficult,
most
our
space
of both historical and ongoing
intimate violences, in the contexts
structural, social, and political violences. And it has been
important, cathartic for many students, I think—but tough.”
Hite’s
and
recent
scholarly work is
on
much of which is
memorialization,
book Politics and the Art
Struggle
in Latin America and
an
analysis
of four memorials
“disappeared”
or
Spain (Routledge, 2011),
Spain, Peru,
Chile, and Argentina.
“Since
“There's
Maya
on
a huge
building
Chile today, there
Memorials
way people try
make
to
meaning
out
of
no
are
Abd
Pres-Rodig
Asociated
speak to
an
one
sometimes among
business,
a
story of
shocking
a
it will contextualize the event “within
event”
whether
or
global political and
within the global
historical story.” Contextualizing
history of the struggle for humanrights, they argue, “will help
a
that event
us
remember that
to
September 11 is more
“But it is unclear whether we,
look
the role
at
attack,
played by
look
to
or
at
as
a
to
our
government
it,” says Hite. “Think about how
Susan Sontag and a few others
excoriated in the New Yorker
for
'closure'
day.”
one
are
the abuses and violences
has committed in response
thing
than just
prepared to
nation,
in
precipitating the
government
our
as
raising
even
the
question,
‘How could this have happened?’”
There’s no such thing, Hite says,
“closure”
ries. “But
traumatic memo-
on
there ways
are
imagine being
Can
by
these memorial
they help
we
can
moved and mobi-
spaces?
connect across
us
how
we
are
implicated,
meaningfully
on
political violence, but I
move
in
ones
political struggles.
to
open
memorials tend
to
a
narrative—“Yes, it
put forward
was
a
nasty
but we’re better and stronger now” —glossing
by
citizen groups
over
well
Llora,
we’re
qua
as
OJo
narratives and also put forward alternative visions of
Riley/
the future. “These memorials
as
forward? I teach the class
also teach the social
our
people who don’t necessarily
seeing memorials initiated
in the coming year. In
distances, recognize
violence and repression. But increasingly, Hite says,
state
exceptional, unique
there ways we can
another.”
Official, state-sanctioned
official, state-sanctioned
are.
professor Marita Sturken ask whether the National
September 11 Memorial and Museum will tell the story as “an
lized
an
conversation,
we
and NYU
by memorial spaces?"
expression of how we relate our past
present, consciously and unconsciously, and they can
are
such
where
are
the Huffngton Posfs Arts and Cultureblog, Hite
political
violence and the loss of loved
They
own
completion
imagine being moved and mobilized
hundreds.
are
one
on
post
a
as
around the world,” says Hite. “In
are
recent
slated for
we
world,” says Hite.
the
to
memorial and museum
traumatic memories," says Hite.
“But
there has been
upsurge in memorial
tragedy of 9/11,
why
less violent
were
Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1982,
us
imagine
is, of course, our
to
dictatorial regimes in
in
There
and
happened
to
killed
were
the hands of
at
in her
presented
of Commemoration: Memorials
to
the thousands who
the politics of memory
this
why
ask
They
antagonistic.”
safe spaces where we can facilitate
and conversation and sharing? That’s what I’ve been
Hite. “But how do
about
counter-memorials that challenge these state-sanctioned
open up conversations
class because I
movements
really
analytically sharp and to feel
and
to
ready
good.”
engaged
struggle for the common
racial
hatred, gender inequality, food
Trauma, violence,
economic
injustice—this “morass,” Hite says, is
insecurity,
of
her
the legacy
generation.
students both
want
“Yes,
aware
you do become
discouraged when
of these issues,” says
Professor Hite’s social
optimistic
I’m
be
to
willing
about what
to
Thompson.
you first become
“But
a
class like
class gives you hope. I’m
be accomplished in the future, and
movements
can
work for it.”
And that clear-eyed
optimism
is Katherine Hite’s
legacy.
Pres-Moly
Asociated
Pres-ChaliTnd/
Abot/sciaed
Coleg-John
Vas ar
©
Ojo que Llora (or Eye that Cries) memorial in Lima, Peru. As away to remember those who disappeared during the
rocks.
on
nation's 20-year civil conflict, family members write the victims' names
The
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
19
Vassar
today
VEGETARIANISM
at
A
generation
Vassar
ago, many Americans
...
and
Beyond
considered vegetarianism
a
fringe
movement
associated with the counterculture of the 1960s—“hippie food” But in 2011, a survey
done by the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) found that five percent of American
adults “never eat meat, fish, seafood,
vegans do not eat
are
Institutions
on
honey and do not use animal products such as silk, leather, or wool.
also
beginning
data from
United
poultry.” Of that five percent, half identified as
they refrain from eating eggs or dairy products, as well. In addition, many
vegan, meaning
Based
or
States,
schools—including
than
more
embrace this shift.
to
the Humane
companies and
U.S.
3,500
of the
Society
participation
VRG, people generally
Mondays. According
cite several reasons
for becoming vegetarian, including
“health, ecological and religious concerns, dislike of meat,
in Meatless
compassion for animals,
belief in nonviolence, and economics.”
The health benefits of
documented. With the
exception of
avocados and
have been well
vegetarianism
and seeds,
nuts
foods
low in fat.
olives,
plant
study on obesity done by the Journal of the Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics found that the obesity rate for
as
most
are
A
meat
In
eaters
33.3 percent; for vegans, it was
was
the Adventist Health
addition,
that vegans have
nonvegetarians.
a
are
to
86 percent
are
A report
by
68 percent lower
of diabetes than
rate
by
29 percent lower for
rates
the Annals of
decide
about the
concern
vegetarians
become
to
than
vegetarian
of animals.
treatment
chickens and
turkeys raised
organization
such farms. “Birds raised for
on
factory farms.
revealed the conditions
the animal welfare
according
example, that “Pigs
they undergo
docking—without pain
pigs and cattle arrive at slaughterhouses,
slaughtering procedure similar to chickens.
a
“Veganism
for
Omnivores,”
confined
the
on
lecture
Vassar
at
on
fall, James
history at Texas State University
Marcos, noted that free-range animals face similar
“humanely”
of
allow their herds
cannot
large, because overgrazing would ruin their
excess
Therefore,
calves, for example, may be sold
pastures.
become
too
feedlots “to be raised under conventional circumstances.”
to
that, although sources
agriculture produces 18
McWilliams also noted
figure,
exact
of
“Animal
greenhouse gases”
in the world.
environmental effects of eating
meat
Indeed,
vary
on
the
50 percent
to
concern
for the
has convinced many
to
take up
vegetarianism.
Jill Schneiderman, professor of earth science and geography,
describes herself as “largely vegetarian for reasons
related
to
the environmental
costs
ethics.” She says she tries
animal
to
of
meat
production
help students see
that concentrated
wire
more
tens
“battery cages” stacked several
given
The Humane
WINTER
tiers high, in which
“less than a letter-sized sheet of
2014
Society
also
of
they’re
living space.
paper”
reported on slaughterhouse
feeding operations (CAFOs,
and animal
of thousands in grower houses” without natural light or
Egg-laying hens are generally confined in small
are
by
a
raised farm animals this past
McWilliams, professor
in San
organization. It reports, for
undergo mutilations—-
meat
castration and tail
including
relief.” When
In
raised for
electrified
factory farms) are
“not only inhumane, they are big environmental polluters.”
According to Humane Society figures, CAFOs produce
meat
ventilation.
20
don’t fare much
cows
to
from
rates
18 percent lower.
are
and
to
the Humane
the
Pigs
through an
usually by machine.”
better on factory farms,
cut,
are
discovered
Society, of the approximately 11
billion livestock animals killed annually in the United States,
According
bath before their throats
fates. Farmers who raise them
Study-2
Several studies reviewed
nonvegetarians, while cancer
However, many people
because of their
water
9.4 percent.
Nutrition & Metabolism indicate that death
heart disease
by their legs,
well
as
and “their heads pass
down
Vassar—encourage
to
turkeys are shackled and hung upside
Chickens and
procedures.
than 500 million
every year.
tons
of
waste
manure
in this country
those from manure, and
Beach
ultimately impact groundwater
Marji
Pathogens, including
nitrates from CAFO
or
today
vassar
w ~‘
’-s
-
-
-7
.“Rocky Schwartz,
and human
drinking
water, Schneiderman says,
“Ammonia from CAFOs
and crowd
waters
There is
students
a
other
out
strong
to
there.”
to
answer
and vegan
to
reasons
for
their diets.
Animal
Many are members of the Vassar
Rights Coalition (VARC), an organization that
“works
to
changing
a
better the lives of nonhuman animals
through
diverse range of
projects.” Members aim to “encourage
the
in
Vassar community about the impacts of
choices and behaviors on the lives of animals,
awareness
consumer
in relation
namely
to
and animal
food, clothing,
During his freshman year, VARC member (and
Alan Darer ’l4 decided to become vegan after
the
organization’s screening
of Fowl
about the abuses in the egg
were
practices I didn’t want
Fellow member Katie
Maguire
Play,
industry.
to
a
testing.”
treasurer)
attending
support,”
he recalls.
’l6 changed her eating habits
Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Eating Animals, an
look
at factoryfarming. Maguire —who is currently
unflinching
of
co-president VARC, along with Alessandra Seiter ’16 —says
that the
as
the
veganism
dairy
meat
over
vegetarianism
and egg industries
were
industries” in the way
VARC created its Veggie
Buddy
because she “realized
just
they
initiative
problematic
as
treat
to
help
animals.
students
a
questions
vegan diet and
for
to
com),
on
which
vegan
provides
month. To
one
raise
Seiter created VARC’s site
a
topics, ranging
the transition
ease
about animal rights,
awareness
(vassaranimalrights.wordpress.
list of
comprehensive
from animal welfare
to
resources
nutrition.
Seiter also prepares the food for all VARC events, which this
winter included a vegan wine-and-cheese tasting that attracted
200 people. She develops her own
over
recipes for her catering,
is vegan cheese made from cashews
almonds. Seiter started Farmers Market Vegan, a blog that
and
or
of her
one
specialties
has allowed her
as
to
share such
to
discuss the “social
staff
Dining
offers
least
or
a
one
others,
issues related
as
well
veganism.”
been working with Campus
to
increase vegan food options at Vassar. ACDC
a bean dish every day, along with at
to
rice dish and
vegan
entree
—such
chili—at each meal. Most
from the Hudson
oil. Students
stir-fry
with
recipes
justice
For the past 10 years, VARC has
documentary
“I decided these
after reading
she chose
those who wish
vegan diet. The program pairs
a VARC member who is available 24/7
a
become vegan with
cite ethical
most
transition to
to
contingent of vegetarian
campus, and
on
adding,
grow in surface
algae
things that have been living
causes
can
area,
Valley,
even
hummus,
noodles,
sesame
and all
are
make their
cooked with
meal
own
at
vegetable
a
special
from “an array of vegetables, oils, pasta,
tofu, rice, and sauces,”
of campus dining. The
“meats” and
as
vegetables are locally sourced
says Maureen King, senior director
Retreat offers
cheeses, black
bean
a
selection of vegan
burgers, and
VASSAR
vegan
pizza.
QUARTERLY
21
VARC
today
vassar
Seiter
Alan Darer
VARC members work with ACDC staff
Mondays,
which ACDC features
to
host Meatless
coverage in the New York
and USA
special vegan
Darer says, “About 25 percent of the people on the meal
plan have signed up.” Once a month, VARC and Campus
on
collaborate
Dining
on
a
entree.
special all-vegan buffet, for
a
off. A
survey done
recent
VARC members
interned at Animal
in Grass
3,000
hens from
are
because the
The farm
difficult
For
sent
to
to
3,000
of
47,000 others
days,
them,
were
Schwartz and her
battery
years
be
it
was
cages, and bathed them in
shipped.
to
shelters
or
homes
not
allowed
to
transport live
funding from an
charter plane to fly
secured
for
a
arrived in New York
City
chickens,
find that farm animals
powder
cry. Some can’t finish
watching
on
the video.”
Mansouri
animal abuse
Yas ine
by focusing
cruelty to
on
animals in
Maguire
and Seiter helped
place
in
agriculture,
organize DC
VegFest.
September 2013, featured
on
vegetarian-related issues,
vegetarian products. Ultimately, more
These student activists
are
graduation options.
Mercy for Animals in May,
now
Darer will
the East
both
Animal Place
considering
obtain
to
a
well
as
than
as
exhibitors
10,000 people
begin
a
their post-
full-time job with
Maguire
and Schwartz are
in animal advocacy. Seiter hopes
Fellowship, which supports a year of
examine
around the globe,
to
based
before
societies,”
and
surveying
careers
Watson
independent study, to
September 5, 2013, generating
Courtesy
//
attended the festival.
to
Modi
Pulin
Maguire and Seiter interned at the Washington, DC-based
Compassion Over Killing, an organization “working to end
of
anonymous donor and arranged
them to the East Coast. The hens
on
to
speakers
removed
Coast. After Schwartz learned that commercial aircraft
are
people
The event, which took
lice. Once the hensrecovered, 2,000 of them were
or
adoptive homes in California, while the
sent
documentary about factory farming.
a
of
and veganism,
shelters
remaining 1,000 were
“People
shocked and horrified
promoting vegetarian eating.” In addition to engaging in
outreach activities to educate the public about animal rights
emotionally
dying.”
colleagues
Fridge,
are
and
old,
gas about 50,000 [hens], and while
to
rescue
know
to
hens from
remove
colleagues rescued
egg-laying facility. She said: “The
an
planned
two
a
of Farm to
“Some
farm animal sanctuary located
routinely gassed when they’re two
soft to
eggs they lay become too
able
were
’l5
“Rocky” Schwartz
for
focused
suffer the outrageous abuses that they do,” says Darer.
where she and her
Valley, CA,
chickens
we
Place,
to
activism beyond campus,
well. Last summer, Rockwell
as
Mercy
nonprofit animal rights organization
promoting a vegetarian diet,” where he participated in
a special “pay-per-view” outreach program. Along with his
colleagues, he offered passersby $l.OO to watch excerpts
vegan-friendly campus dining.
taking their
are
of
on
paid
by peta2 (an offshoot of People
“A” for
gave Vassar an
the New York office
at
“a
Animals,
which
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that does outreach
youth)
Daily News,
Today.
Darer interned
side of ACDC is reserved. All of their work has
one
New York
Times,
see
if
“plant-based
communities
they’re more
going
to
egalitarian than meatwork in animal advocacy.
el
Prolman,
page,
facing
Portais,
//
(animlpce.org)
Place
Lesniak/Aml
Sharie
image,
Poster
Bar y/
DID YOU KNOW?
According
to the Humane
Society
of the United
States,
Meatless
The federal government rationed meat —thus
encouraging
soldiers
with the Johns
"war
on
The tradition
overseas.
was
revived
Hopkins Bloomberg
obesity"
in 2003.
during
people
World War 11.
School of Public
Kiaba
Health,
Mondays
date back to World War I.
to eat less of it—so
Marketing
it could be sent to
guru Sid Lerner, in
conjunction
later resuscitated the effort to
fight
the
Coleg-Jen
©Vas r
page,
this
Portais,
22
WINTER
2014
vassar
today
AFTER VASSAR
would be remiss if
We
did
we
mention the many
not
alumnae/i—former members of VARC
—who have remained
cessors
after
actively
the public about animal welfare and
educating
its
or
prede-
involved in
vegetarianism
graduation.
As
a
president of
PROLMAN 'B7 served as
student, SUSAN
the Animals, the college’s precursor
Save
VARC. She has since
to
in animal welfare advocacy.
distinguished career
at
studying Georgetown University Law Center, Prolman
persuaded the administration to develop one of the nation’s
to
on
gone
a
While
first animal rights law
As
a
courses.
government relations counselfor Defenders of
Wildlife,
Prolman lobbied members of Congress and executive branch officials
agriculture, international trade,
issues related to
on
and the
National Environmental Policy Act to protect wildlife. She later
became the
Scientists
Washington representative of the Union of Concerned
lobbying for
and directed
(UCS),
Environment program. She also put pressure
to
Prolman did
States,
a
stint
a
the Humane
at
role in which she
promoted
China, India, and Brazil.
Most recently, she has
served
of the United
campaigns,
the welfare of farm animals in
Prolman lobbied foE
executive
as
Society
director of international
well, serving as
as
factory farmers
on
of antibiotics.
away from the use
move
UCS’s Food and
0116
f t he nation’s first animal
G
director of the National
Coalition,
an
of grassroots
law COUESCS, while
rights
Sustainable Agriculture
alliance
studeELt
at
a
GeOEgetOWEl.
organiza-
tions that “advocates for federal
sustainability
of
policy reform
agriculture, food
advance the
to
systems, natural resources,
and rural communities.”
Though she
is vegan, Prolman has
livestock farmers, in
conditions. “There
are
who make the effort
up until
to
to
have social
to
says. “I try
to
be
to
—
to
or
give
the
stay in comfortable
stay with their young and allow
contact
respectful
living
producers—a minority
Prolman —they
outdoors
roam
their animals’
the basic needs of the animal
meet
“allow mothers
or
animals
animal
some
with many small-scale
met
improve
to
slaughter,” explains
animals freedom
shelter
effort
an
as
of
their
species requires,”
people who try
to
she
raise animals
better thanconventional agriculture.”
While
a
student
at
chairperson of VARC as
Vassar,
PULIN MODI 'O2
well as chair of the Food
served
as
Committee,
made up of students who work with Campus Dining
to
ensure
that food choices reflect students’
of the
committee, Modi worked extensively with Campus
preferences. As part
Dining to increase vegan food options at Vassar. After
graduation, he interned at People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals
manager,
college
focused
(PETA), eventually becoming
responsible
students
on
for
through
reaching
a special
out to
an
action
high
team
school and
program called
petal,
youth.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
23
vassar
today
Modi worked with peta2 for several years,
the country
spread the word
to
also
helped college
and
supervised the
at
traveling
students organize vegan food campaigns,
“Street Team,” which encourages youths’
animal rights activism and rewards them for efforts like
protest animal
ing organizations
companies
organizing vegan food campaigns.
or
to
NICKY QUINN 'O4 works as director of
Duck, a
across
and festivals. He
concerts
NewYork-based veganraw
juice bars,
and
operations at
contact-
abuse,
One
or
Lucky
food company thatcomprises
mail order
operation.
“naturally
being
grown wild
or organically and sustainably raised fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
seeds, and occasionally, sprouted grains.” Most significantly,
a
restaurant,
defines a
Quinn
a
food diet
raw
as
she says, “raw food cuisine is made with
been heated
118
over
ingredients
degrees Fahrenheit—if at all,”
the food’s nutrients and enzymes, making them more
and easier to
and bee
that haven’t
to
preserve
nutritious
digest. With the occasional exceptions
pollen, raw food cuisine is also vegan.
of
honey
After graduation, Quinn worked in finance for several years,
but says, “I wanted
career,” she
notes.
“Eating a plant-based diet—mostly raw vegan—not
only
makes me feel amazing, but it’s also about living compassionately for the animals and the environment, both of which suffer
to
align
my passions with my
immensely with the consequences of every choice we make.”
One Lucky Duck is the brainchild of Sarma Melngailis, who
with her former partner cofounded Pure Food and Wine, New
York
City’s first upscale
bar in 2004. The
started
was
For
over
and its adjacent
restaurant
vegan
operation,
e-commerce
One
juice
Lucky Duck,
year later.
one
years now, Quinn has managed One Lucky Duck’s
two
marketing, website, and newsletters.
She says she and the company
motivated to “alter people’s perspective about what it means
to
are
be vegan.” One Lucky Duckcarries a selection of
as
Nicky Quinn at Pure Food and Wine
well as
ingredients, supplements,
specializes
with raw
'O9,
way after
own
former VARC president, decided
a
noticing that
reaching
Last
The
she
to
go
lot of vegan
bloggers were
nonvegan food like burgers and dairy.
based foods while also
compiled
e-book of
(made
vegan version of Wheat Thins.
raw
a
advocating imitations of
She started the blog, Queer Vegan Food,
fall,
vegan snacks,
products, but
cookies and crackers like oatmeal cookies
in raw
sprouted oats) and a
SARAH BROWN
her
raw
and skin care
out
Queer
to
promote
plant-
the gay community.
Vegan Food Cookbook,
to
recipes
by vegan chefs and bloggers,
Rachel
Lee
including Seiter,
’OB, and Brown’s mother, Joan
Brown
’73.
is
Lipman
(Sarah
donating all of the proceeds to
an
contributed
the Woodstock Farm Animal
Sanctuary in Woodstock, NY.)
Brown has also contributed
Defiant Daughters:
to
vegan
Animals,
2013),
had
—Sara
Sara
Hoi
ib
24
WINTER
and the Sexual Politics
edited
after inviting her
met
Sezun
Sezun
by ecofeminist
2014
for
essay
how she became
on
Art, Activism,
on
of Meat, (Lantern Books,
J. Adams, whom Brown
Carol
to
speak
at
a
VARC
event.
'BB
is
a
writer
and
:
vegan
an
21 Women
the
past 20 years.
playwrightliving
in Boston.
She
has
been
New Course Takes Critical Approach to
Contemporary Indigenous Art
Professor of
Assistant
English and
Molly
Native American Studies
McGlennen contends that
and for far
often,
long,
too
American artists have been
ignored
and
if their work is
“trinkets”
and
largely
museums
that
notes
ethnological
“curios”
archaeological
dynamic bodies
or
as
the
by
Native American artists.
not
created
as
McGlennen is
“Decolonizing
hoping
the
of
art
course
the Exhibition: Critical
Approaches to Contemporary Indigenous
Art,”
which she
designed
and offered
for the first time this fall, will help
change
this
together
To
marginalized Native
them all
‘lndians’ rather than artists
particular tribal nations with
specific worldviews, homelands, and relationships
colonialism,”
McGlennen
those stereosays. “This class confronts
types and myths, and explores how they
came
who
helped
to
design
Vassar’s correlate in Native American
studies,
says the
significantly
new
from
course
most
classes. Our class looks
through
a
15 students in the class
McGlennen
specific drawing
a
art
at
had them write labels
print and
for the piece
or
a
touched
only
to
learn more,” Arike says.
She says McGlennen gave the class a
“crash course
in Native American history
wanted
to
put
of the other
some
learning
Contemporary
Inuit
Prints and
Drawings from the Edward
Guarino
Collection,” and for an
J.
accompanying “virtual” exhibit online.
The works on display includedpieces
donated
a
the
to
college by Guarino,
public school teacher from
retired
collected
who has
than 1,000 paintings,
more
drawings, pottery,
created by Native
and other artwork
American artists.
Guarino said he chose Vassar
as
the
recipient of his
gifts
the
housed in
a
teaching
would be used
to
enlight-
collection,
museum,
because he knew
students about the
en
many in the
art
neglect
world
artists. “Native American
relegated
history
museums
Art
a
to
the back of
gaping
are
these
is often
museums;
in the
career
world when
art
lot of the
important
an
component, learning how to
a
we’re
break down
about Native
misconceptions
American art.”
McGlennen says
courses
before
that
of the
most
reactions she gets from her
common
one’s
one
is, “Why haven’t I read
in my history books?” She
question leads us
responsibility to
Arike says the
to
ask,
“What is
has
course
helped
her
gain a proper perspective on
significance of Native American
“Em
learning
politically
history major
to
Guarino says.
Kristina Arike ’l4
enroll in McGlennen’s
culturally,”
she says.
their art, and
learning
it is, Native
peoples’
a
real issue and
Hertz
Above, from
by
left:
Pitaloosie
Shuvinain
featured
art.
—
and
sovereignty becomes
not
just a concept.”
artist
the
lot about sovereignty
a
“By recognizing
how important
—Larry
this
says
this omission?”
hole in the story many
telling,”
says she decided
art
to
shown
things
in context.” Arike says she is
she graduates, “and this is
the Exhibition:
art
and I
briefly,
on
Art Center exhibition
“Decolonizing
early
in
course
“Native American
art.
planning a
there’s
Native American studies
American
both for the Frances Lehman Loeb
“differs
the artwork
each of
assigned
artists,
them
by
about.”
McGlennen,
acquaint the
class after taking
was
with contemporary Native American
from
to
world.”
art
nearby Westchester County
artists, often lumping
as
to
perception.
“Museums have
American
and the broader
Native
acknowledged
it is understood
all,
by
historians. She
art
often,
at
trivialized
or
too
perspective. It’s about indigenous
peoples’ relationships with museums
Strange Ladies
Saila, and
Ashoona.
artworks
at
See
Quilt
a
by
of
slideshow
Inuit
Dreams
of
vq.vassar.edu.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
25
today
vassar
All Hail
THE RETIREES!
Every year, Vassar
says goodbye to retiring
professors
who have
IN THIS ISSUE, WE HONOR SEVERAL
AND DEDICATION TO STUDENTS FOR DECADES.
JIM CHALLEY
Senior Lecturer in Physics
Though Jim Challey
retired
semester, he’s in the Retreat
at
the end of the
often,
so
spring
would never
one
2013
know it.
“Pm still involved in the life of the campus,” he says.
A former senior lecturer in physics and former director of the
Science, Technology,
to
serve
as a
and Society(STS) program,
member of the Vassar Pre-Med Advising Committee,
which helps alumnae/i
medical school, and
to
Challey
of
Challey continues
is also
navigate the arduous task of applying
is advising seniors on their STS theses.
busy off-campus
Poughkeepsie Zoning
of Friends of Peach Hill,
as
chair of the Town
the
Challey,
state
(his
son
who arrived
at
WINTER
201
4
saw
went
of the oldest
there
Vassar in
as
1973,
a
daycare
preschooler).
is heartened
by
stranger walk out
the science curriculum for the
system that
‘Wow,
Challey
what a great
exemplifies his
of
for
core
had
to
were
with
part of
Poughkeepsie public
school
develop.
thought,
do,”’ Young says. “To me, this
quality as a genuinely caring man.”
thing
helped
his
instance, recalled
Challey’s office
“I
to
to
While his former students offer tribute
hear where
one
a
Young ’9l,
of papers. Turns out, the materials
a
the send-off he received from students and alumnae/i who
26
packet
departmental newsletter to share
their lives. Chris
on
the time he
a
the STS
use
there’s much
Appeals; president
nonprofit that maintains a
Poughkeepsie Day Nursery,
in
impact
to
Board of
as
a member of the board of
large public park. He serves
Springside Landscape Restoration, which maintains the
grounds of Matthew Vassar’s historic summer
home, and
centers
decided
to
Challey, he says
be admired about them and he’s
they’ve landed.
“One of
a
always glad
teacher’s greatest
to
joys is
hearing from past students about what they’re doing,” he says.
As for
professor
retirement, he says he and spouse Janet Gray, still a
of psychology at the college, plan to travel. “We’ve got
all kinds of lists of what we’d like to
among the
do,” Challey says. Chief
options are to visit Challey’s son, Darren, and four
grandchildren in Seattle, WA, as well as Gray’s son, Geoffrey,
who lives in China.
Lindblom
Eric
//
Lewis
Coleg-Buck
©Vas r
vassar
BROUGHT EXCITEMENT INTO THE
today
CLASSROOM AND OFFERED THEIR EXPERTISE
ASK, “WHAT’S NEXT?”
FACULTY MEMBERS WHO HAVE RETIRED THIS YEAR AND
Nancy Willard
Lecturer in
An
English
award-winning
poet,
essayist, Nancy
enjoying
her role
as
educator.
an
A
the students
at
was
Willard,
sought
and
one
to
of the joys of
at
make the
asset
to
teaching here,”
Willard says
and open to
she says.
was
In
“It was
of
form of
to
a
a
letter. In
another,
write
students had to
a
story in the
pen directions
fictitious country.
One of her
a
Tapestry,
tapestry restorer
courses, Willard says, was
which she
co-taught with Tina
for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
visit
art
a
for the
beauty
and
justice
—
and each student created
looms,
to
the medieval
text
a
Willard
to
she says,
that the class
noting
The Cloisters—a branch of the Met
and architecture of medieval
Europe—to
tapestries.
hands-on way to
class allows you
teach,” Willard says.
“A smaller
do that.”
her honors have included
a
Newbery
Medal and
National Book Critics Circle Award nomination, she says
it’s her time
treasures
memorable
most
Medieval Text and
Kane,
the
to
a
view authentic period
a
feeling
complement
to
delighted by it,”
were
Though
to
in mini
concluded with
incorporate literature from
the varied backgrounds of
light
real
teaching.
devoted
asked students
class, she
one
brought
“They
her students.
a
tapestry —photos didn’t do them
a
small tapestry
spring 2013, always
learning experience enjoyable
to
the students
give
intricacies of
any professor.
the end of
unforgettable and aimed
range of sources, in
intelligent,
tremendous
a
who retired
ways
English Department,
Vassar—well-read,
ideas—would be
“That
To
Kane
in Vassar’s
professor
new
a
and
novelist,
Willard spent the past 47 years
teaching and
her beloved students that she
most.
“The students always
Willard—who lives
she’s still writing
poetry
one
came
first,” she
says.
block from Vassar’s campus—says
and children’s books.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
27
today
vassar
Michael Murray
James Monroe Taylor Professor of
Professor Michael Murray’s
actually inspired by
foray into
Philosophy
the field of
love of
philosophy
literature. “I
English
it,” Murray says.
As an undergraduate, his adventures in poetry writing led
him to an interest in
literary theory and critical reading and
led
the field that has meant
much to him.
to
so
eventually
was
a
sort
of evolved into
Arriving in 1970, Murray has taught Continental philosophy
and published books and
the philosophy of
papers on
time and
history, philosophy of art, phenomenology
thought, and deconstruction, including
of
thought
Hegel, Heidegger, Derrida, and Foucault.
and existential
the
He has traveled to several universities as
a visiting scholar.
sojourns—including stints at the University of Turin
in Italy and Yale University —have been among the highlights
of his career, Murray says.
These
A 1983
Peking University ignited a
passion for contemporary Chinese art that continues today.
In the years that followed, Murray curated an exhibition
28
WINTER
trip
2014
to
lecture
at
of
avant-garde
Chinese
art
in New York
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.
the show became
Chinese
art
City
and
at
the
of the artists in
Many
important figures in the
contemporary
market.
“The great thing about Vassar is
connections. We don’t live in
we
have these international
bubble,”
he says.
Over the years, it has been the students that have
kept
him young, Murray
says, and he’s enjoyed his colleagues,
three of whom retired in recent
years. “Now, we’re entering
time in the department—new
a new
and new
a
challenges
opportunities,” he says.
Murray, who retired at
says he’ll focus
subject
on
the end of the fall 2013
semester,
in the
finishing his book on
censorship
he
taught during his final semester
also
There’s
more
college.
traveling in his future,
arts
—a
places
he’s been and brand new
at
both
to
destinations.
all, Murray says, it has been a wonderful ride.
well paid for doing the things I love.”
In
the
“I got
'OO
Abramson
Coleg-Evan
May/©Vsar
Coleg-Jnifr
©Vas r
vassar
Shirley
today
Johnson-Lans
Professor of Economics
former chair of the
department,
teaching, researching
and
professor and
former economics
Shirley Johnson-Lans, a
has spent the past 46 years
writing, and participating in
nearly
says. “It
A
was
a
enjoys,
being
to
endless
and she
trip
return
visit
when the
in the advanced
she
was
I attended
stages,”
in the
harpsichord and sings
City, Johnson-Lans has a
subjects and activities that she
supply of
plans to
to
widen her exposure
Southeast Asia is likely,
South Africa—both
are
places
as
is
even
a
more.
first-time
that her academic
on
the list is
board of the Veerm
that
women.
India,
Johnson-Lans sits on the
nongovernmental organization
since
Project,
brings education and healthcare to rural girls and
Her research in India, funded by that NGO and
a
Research, has led to the creation
on
health, including infant
mothers’
mortality
rates; anemia
rates
in
adolescent
—particularly effects
women; education
literacy
on
of
That
daughters; and child marriage.
the basis for three working
as
been used
survey data have
published article.
one
learning willcontinue to be part ofJohnsonLans’s life, though she retired at the end of the fall 2013
take Italian, art history, and music
semester. She plans to
Teaching
classes
at
and
Vassar. And there is the book series she’ll edit
Palgrave Macmillan and the conference
presenting a paper in the spring.
for
“I also plan
work has touched upon.
Also
a
nutrition and
papers and
part of that transition.”
choir in New York
seemingly
A
fun
pianist who specializes
with
was
faculty meeting
discussion of going coed
of
on
database of information
girls and
every campus committee.
“The first
Vassar’s Committee
to
spend a
lot of time with my
at
which she’s
grandchildren,”
she says.
—Debbie
Swartz
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
29
today
vassar
The
rugby team
women's
the
that
game
place
earned
in the
Way to go, Vassar!
Coach
A VASSAR FIRST:
pointment
WOMEN’S RUGBY REACHES
says the
Tony Brown
he and his
the semifinal match
players
was
FINAL FOUR
a
The Vassar women’s
excelled
third
at
national stage,
a
in Auburndale,
tournament
in December. The
rugby
team
Vassar
lost
team
finishing
the American Collegiate
Rugby
on
Association
EL,
rugby
to
crew
the first
was
of
sense
pride
in their
throughout
ments
the
arts
people know we
have
some
competitive athletes,”
communities and around the world—-
small
a
now, a
lot of
34-19 in the semifinals
they rebounded the
on
next
December
day
to
in
that
areas
In
citing Johnson
PROFESSOR EMERITUS
7,
VAL-KILL MEDAL
the
study of
of human rights
as
a
democratic societies
bounced back in the consolation
game
on December 8. “I told
teammates
my
finishing third was the only option—-
ation the
no
way
we
were
going
he
brought
to
his entire
importance
as
a
professor
Vassar
College,
every successive gener-
insight that there
freedom if it is
true
the
the
Val-Kill
at
and international relations.
During a 40-year career
of political science at
was
recipient,
building block of
as
well as foreign
(PA) University 24-15.
Co-captain Dallas Robinson ’l4
says she’s proud of the way the team
there
a
“Johnson devoted
to
policy
defeat
as
Eleanor Roosevelt Center
career
GLEN JOHNSON AWARDED
the focus of Eleanor
were
Roosevelt’s life’s work.
wonderfully
Brown says.
Kutztown
is
grounded
not
no
in
human rights.”
Johnson
home
served
the
Eleanor
in fourth. And the way we
Roosevelt Center
Kutztown]
capacities, including his role as
president of the Board of Directors
was
a
played [against
totally different game.”
While the loss
to
Val-Kill in vari-
at
ous
Notre Dame still
stings, co-captain Margaret Kwateng
from
’l4 says she and her teammates would
of The Universal Declaration
always cherish
Human
“At the
really
expect to
a
discipline
WINTER
what they
accomplished.
of the season, you
start
“It took
30
humanitarian efforts —in their
to
wrote,
history. Though the Brewers
Notre Dame College (OH)
recognizes those who
and in the
reach the Final Four in
to
annual award
have made significant contributions
season
school, but
Val-Kill Medal in October 2013. The
tempered by
accomplish-
national tourney. “We may be
liberal
disap-
felt after
get this
far,”
lot of mental and
to
2014
never
Glen
Johnson, Shirley
Ecker
Boskey
1997-2001,
Creation
Rights:
and is the author
of
A
History of Its
and Implementation, 1948-
she says.
Professor Emeritus of Political Science
1998
physical
and International Relations
about Eleanor Roosevelt’s work in the
win all those games.”
was
at
Vassar,
awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt
(Human Rights
United Nations.
in
Perspective),
Final
after
them
Four.
a
vassartoday
NEW ADMISSIONS WEBSITE
WINS DESIGN PRIZE
Vassar’s
new
captured
a
website
admissions
Gold Award in the 43rd
Annual
University
Designers
Association
(UCDA) Design
Competition’s digital
media category.
The UCDA
and
College
Design Competition recog-
nizes the very best
design work
used
promote educational institutions.
to
Senior Web
Silverman,
accepted
Designer Christopher
who led the
design
team,
the award in October
the UCDA
proceedings
in
at
Louisville,
KY. “One of my primary goals was
making the site friendly and distinctive.
schools
Applying to
be
can
a
complex
Vassar
The
and
intimidating
avoid the
to
I noticed
on
impersonal
250
overtones
other admissions
some
site's
user-friendly
professional artists
students. Performances
redesign.
and theater
NEW FIELD HOCKEY
marked by
are
Powerhouse’s dedication
Silverman says.
sites,”
Admissions
process, and I wanted
to
LEADER NAMED COACH
plays,
new
OF THE YEAR
outstanding artists, and affordable
prices, making exceptional theater
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS
accessible to
broad audience.
a
OF POWERHOUSE
THEATER
HERALDED
VASSAR EARNS 2013
Powerhouse Theater
was
awarded the
ALLY AWARD
Dutchess County Executive’s Arts
Award for
Arts
an
Organization
at
a
ceremony held in October. Presented
by
the Dutchess
County Arts Council,
the honor rewards
has made
tion
important contribugrowth of the county’s
cultural life
period
over
a
significant
of time.
Powerhouse,
29th
institution that
an
the
to
an
New York
summer,
which
completed
its
a
between Vassar and
collaboration
fall
semester,
Works
Vassar
honored
was
by
(Gay, Lesbian, and Straight
Education Network) Hudson Valley
GLSEN
with
Ally
an
recognize
Award. The awards
individuals and organizations
whose efforts
end anti-LGBT
help
bias and harassment in schools.
this past summer, is
season
During the
Community
Stage
and Film.
Every
Powerhouse presents up
different projects
featuring more
to
20
than
Community Works
is Vassar’s annual
employee and student philanthropic
campaign, which has raised more
than $1 million and funded over
40
institutions
Valley
since its
in
the Hudson
inception
in 2001.
This fall, Michael Warari finished
his first
season
as
the head coach of
the Vassar field
hockey team.
who arrived
the
Warari,
college during
of 2013, wasted
summer
making
a
his first
taking
with
to
them
playoffs for
efforts,
the
time
no
for himself. During
name
season
the Brewers
his
at
11-win
an
campaign,
Liberty League
the
to
he led
Vassar,
the first time
For
ever.
Warari earned 2013
Liberty League
Coach of the Year —an
honor he shares with assistant coach
Abigail
Seward.
Warari
joined
the Vassar athletics
staff after serving
assistant coach
in
Molly Carden
directed
and
by Scott
Annabella
Elliott.
Sciorra
in the
Powerhouse's
Downtown
Race
Riot,
by Seth
Carlisle,
at
one
year
Dickinson
as
an
College
PA.
Zvi-Rosenfeld
—Compiled by Elizabeth
Randolph
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
31
beyond
vassar
GRAVITY
One of the
in
a
listened
his
to
lament the
make
to
five years ago when Jonas Cuaron ’O5
father,
writer and director Alfonso
of the industry. The Cuarons
state
born
was
right after
was
of projects dried up,”
the recession
hit,
and
funding for
Jonas recalls. “That’s whenDad
it, let’s make a big film.’”
rambling, all-night discussion
a
said,
lot
‘The
heck with
The
morphed
into
a
plan
make
to
a
tell Dad the
for
movie about
Clooney,
fall, Gravity starring
,
has been
two
Sandra Bullock and
a
billion dollars. The film
went
to
sweep the 2014
Academy Award nominations, garnering 10
in categories including best picture, best director, and best
actress
in
a
leading role.
Jonas attributes
his father collaborated
he was
living
City, 5,600 miles
about
via
the
on
success
and
seven
was
at
of it when
most
home in Mexico
time
zones
away. Every evening at
his father
Jonas would contact
ideas for the plot and dialogue.
o’clock Madrid time,
seven
Skype, and they’d trade
“My father
is this
big-picture, thematic-discourse
I’m from the ADD
when I had to say,
I liked about
our
he
generation,”
‘Dad, we’ve got to
collaboration
quips.
“There
get the story
was
we
guy, and
were
times
moving.’ What
brought two
often
different points of view to the table, and after some
arguing, you
arrive at the best conclusion.”
Jonas
wrote
32
WINTER
didn’t get much
the bulkof the
201
4
sleep during the six weeks when they
script.
the same
were
for
changes in the script,” Jonas
“After about 12
hours,
I’d have
page—so
During the shooting of
ous
suggestions, and it was
a
suggestions
says.
scene, Bullock offered
one
rewritten
get the
vision for the film—-
listened to their
we
her character
wording
numer-
than a dozen times.
more
[a brilliant
troubled past] would use just right, and
respected that,” Jonas says. “I’m a big fan of rewriting.”
Jonas says he began writing scripts in high school—“I wrote
two
to
to
plays, both cheesy teen romances,” he says —but really began
perfect his craft in college. He chose Vassar partly because of
its strong drama program, but he decided
English
and studio
and Vassar offered
the way he and
to
script. They wrote
in Madrid and his father
George
all on
continuedduring the shooting of the
we
to
of the movie’s
some
stop
I really
George
grossed
on
up in Madrid and I had to
and Sandra shared our
research scientist battling
soon
astronauts
universally lauded by critics and has
than a quarter of
more
writing and rewriting
“Sandra wanted to
that followed
coming
was
he says.
movie. “Both
marooned in space hundreds of miles above the earth. Since its
release last
sun
while,”
a
The
Cuaron,
planning
were
small, independent film, but their financing fell
they were starting to assemble a cast.
a
through as
“This
movies of 2013
critically acclaimed
most
London hotel room
a
flexibility in its
explore various ways
He
was
“I took
to
major
be
a
communicate,”
in
writer,
curriculumthat enabled
me
he says.
particularly inspired by English professor Michael Joyce.
some
media studies
from him where
courses
about the interaction of various forms of
of the best
one
double
to
“I always knew I wanted to
art.
things
about Vassar for
many different ways to
tell a
me
learned
we
expression.
That
—it enabled me
to
was
learn
story.”
One of Jonas’s favorite authors while he was
a
student was
Jack
London, and as he and his father discussed how the characters in
Gravity were fighting to overcome
adversity, he recalled the plot
of
a
London short story, “To Build a
in the Yukon wilderness. “I used
devices,”
Fire,”
some
about a
trapped
man
of London’s narrative
Jonas enjoyed the literature he read as an English major but
began to gravitate toward filmmaking after he met his future
wife,
Coleg-John
©Vas r
Portait,
//
Brothers
Warner
of
he admits.
Eireann Harper
Ab ot
’O5, who
was
an
art
history major
at
Vassar.
courtesy
stil s
Movie
beyond
Sandra
One of Cuaron's favorite stories is Jack London's "To Build
about
a man
a
Bullock
vassar
in
Gravity
Fire/'
in the Yukon wilderness. "I used some cif
trapped
London's narrative devices/' he admits.
He convinced his advisers in the
English and
let him do his senior project using still
to
story. “Part of my motivation
friend,” he says.
After he
project
photographs to
I wanted to
was
departments
art
impress
tell a
my
girl-
graduated from Vassar, Jonas expanded his senior
film, the critically acclaimed Year ofthe
into his first
Nail (2007).
Shortly after that film was
released, Jonas began to
write Desierto, which tells the story of
a Mexican family on the
placed that project on hold
to complete
Gravity but plans to start filming later this year.
Jonas says he’s enjoying the buzz leading up to the Oscars, but
he’s sorry his publicity tours
are
taking him away from Eireann
from the U.S. Border Patrol. He
run
and their
two
Camilo, who
sons,
is
five,
and
Elias,
who
was
born last May.
Skype with
“Being away is hard sometimes,” he says. “I can
Camilo, but Elias is too young for that, and when
you’re away from
a
whole
new
child that age for
a
kid when you
see
him
Once the time commitments for
es
making Desierto, Jonas
even
a
couple of weeks, he’s
again.”
Gravity are
says he would like
and he finish-
over
visit the Vassar
to
campus and talk to students interested in filmmaking. “It would
be very exciting to go back there and talk about screenwriting,
but in the movie
going
to
business,
my dad and I finished
the movie done in
It
was
you don’t know how
long things
are
take. I don’t know when Desierto will be done. When
a
writing Gravity, he said, ‘Oh,
we’ll have
half.”
year.’ It took us four and a
wait, Jonas says. “When you’re writing
with an
really know how it will connect
worth the
something, you
never
audience,” he
says. “There
didn’t have
lot of
a
was
dialogue
understand what you’re
a
lot of action in the movie that
hope the audience will
people who saw Gravity
and you
saying.
The
made those connections, and that has been really
gratifying.”
Jonas
Cuaron
'O5
—Larry Hertz
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
33
beyond
vassar
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!
'B7 took home an
Bucatinsky
Dan
Emmy for his role
the hit TV show Scandal last year. Sakina
on
Jaffrey 'B4
began her second season on House of Cards. Tanya Wright
'B9 has
role
a
Orange
on
Is the New Black. And
Davis 'B6 has started her second
Newsroom. She
was
season on
Hope
HBO’s The
joined this year by fellow alumnae/i
Jon Tenney 'B4 (longtime co-star of TNT's The Closer,) and
VQ talked
Grace Gummer 'OB.
DAN BUCATINSKY '87
A multifaceted
known
is
talent, Bucatinsky
writing and
much for his
as
producing
he is for his
as
acting.
He
and starred in the 2001 film All
wrote
Over the
Guy, he
appeared in
the
is
a
writer for and has
long-running hit
show
and he
TV
helped
After he
waiter.” He also did
work for
1992,
comedy
about
he
since.
Bucatinsky
(Outstanding
ABC-TV series
a
role
recurring
He says
it’s
he
designed
“I
majored
his
probably
own
no
major
at
fast,
buffet,
just
eggs. I
prefer
toast
family
myopic,
glad
I took
advantage
flexible curriculum.”
WINTER
201
4
a
and
of Vassar’s
man
acting business 25 years
“I feel pretty lucky to be playing a
ago.
role like this
says. “I
on
a
Bucatinsky
father in
as
a
ly
after Eliza
This
Baby
show
set
never
but that’s been
a
took drama my fresh-
year and loved it, but my
convinced me not to be so
I’m
the hit
in which he
Bucatinsky
out
a
as
bold
be
to
a
book he
was
it is,” he
happy by-product.”
chronicles his
a
as
role model,
early days
wrote
Straight ?:
Confessions of a Gay Dad (Touchstone,
themes
2012). “One of the recurrent
is that there
are
more
make all parents the
are
that make
us
same
things
that
than there
different,” he
says.
shocker,” saying
expected to
“I didn’t
speech
Emmy
he
never
win
even
be nominated. His compe-
really
prepare
a
thank-you
until the last minute because I
didn’t think I had much of
he says. “I
short-
born called Does
Make Me Look
“a real
called his
tition for the award included Michael
pancakes and sausages and biscuits
and maybe some
waffles. That’s just
man
Drama
J. Fox, Harry Hamlin, Nathan Lane,
Rupert Friend, and Robert Morse.
with eggs and bacon and
personality. I
Scandal,
on
he broke into the
and
my
last fall for his role
a
Vassar.
in American
want
Emmy
an
that would have been inconceivable when
pattern of mine: When I have breakI don’t
six-year-old Jonah.
won
surprise
Culture,
an
‘interdisciplinary major,’ which
a mixture of a bunch of
was
things,”
Bucatinsky says. “That’s always been
a
to
who is raising a child
plays gay
with his spouse—a television character
Scandal.)
on
a
screenwriterDon
Guest Actor in
Are? with Kudrow.
has
as
sketch shows. In
met
Eliza and
Series)
also
working
writing, including
who has been his partner ever
They have two children, eight-
Roos,
docuseries Who Do You Think You
(Kudrow
to
year after he moved
a
Angeles,
year-old
Emmy-nominated, unscripted
classes and
taking acting
Web
the
spent
New
Europe,
where
he
“did
what
City,
every
22-year-old in Manhattan is doing:
Grey’s Anatomy,
develop and occasionally acts on the
Emmy-nominated web-to-TV comedy
with fellow Vassar alum
these in-demand actors.
York
Lisa Kudrow ’B5. He also cocreated
34
then moved
Los
Therapy
graduated, Bucatinsky
time in
to
was
really
chance,”
a
bowled over.”
Bucatinsky says he’s enjoying his
season
ue
of Scandal but
working
on
other
ing Grey’s Anatomy
plans
to
third
contininclud-
projects,
Therapy
and Web
and
developing a pilot loosely based
doing what I’ve
always done—putting a lot of balls in
on
his book. “I’ll be
the air and
seeing
what will
happen.”
HBO
of
Courtesy
//
Roos
Don
//
shuterock
beyond
Davis
Hope
with
Jeff
1992 when David Mamet
Tenafly, NJ,
Born in
hood friend of
and the
two
Davis
was
Mira
actress
wrote
Vassar in 1982 with
a
“My
who worked hard
to
love of
other than
at
film.
or
put
through
me
do
to
acting,”
some-
then
Vassar:
she recalls.
relatively new
a
cognitive
going
But
to
be
field that I knew
new
huge,” she
everything. She
enrolled along with
Vassar friends in
program in London. “We
ourselves —we
it
was
dozens of
transformational,”
After she
to
saw
just immersed
plays,
and
Davis says.
graduated, Davis moved
Chicago and started
a
small theater
company with two
partners. “We were
bad
lasted about
—we
embarrassingly
a
year,” she
says. “At
one
show,
we
audience of two: the parents
an
of the person doing the lighting.”
had
She says her first
big
break
came
in
blossomed
portrayed
performances
in theater,
in film,
indirectly
her
to
being
Newsroom cast, she
in The
cast
Newsroom. But before
joining The
nominated for
was
Emmy for her portrayal of Hillary
TV, and
on
stage. And while she has
Anderson called.”
for her
no
project,
next
the
on
specific
she says,
“I’d love it if the Coen Brothers
or
Wes
SAKINA JAFFREY '84
Over the past three
has carved
out
a
decades, Jaffrey
successful—if under-
Rodham Clinton in the 2010 BBC/
the-radar—career
HBO film The
television and movies. But last year
On
Special Relationship.
The Newsroom, Davis plays
she landed
columnist and
date—the
Howard,
a
gossip
love interest of Daniels’s character,
anchorman Will McAvoy.
news
one
of their first
Will makes
sarcastic remark about
a
party, and she
at
a
cocktail
responds by tossing
her
drink in his face. “That’s something I
always
we
wanted to
got it
Davis’s
on
do in real
the first take,” she says.
newest
is
venture
be-aired series for Fox called
Pines. It’s
Columbia,
life, and
being
so
shot
Davis,
yet-to-
Wayward
in British
who has
ages 7 and
daughters,
husband, actor
a
10,
two
with her
Jon Patrick Walker,
“commutes” every week between
Vancouver and her home in New York.
one
of her
tough,
stage and in
on
biggest roles
to
White
no-nonsense
House Chief of Staff Linda
Vasquez on
of Cards.
the hit Netflix series House
The
together,
scenes
Nina’s line of work
two
six-month theater
a
Davis says she is grateful for the
broad range of characters she’s
saw
winning Broadway play, God of
Carnage, with Jeff Daniels, led
In
changed
soon
her in
Daniels.
Speed-the-
plans
TV
was
says.
Year Abroad
Junior
to
career
of
television, and film. Nominated for a
Tony Award, her role in the award-
Nina
was
and her
with acclaimed
discipline
science. “It
fascinating, and I definitely planned
go into this
Chicago production
Plow,
an
became interested in what
She
was
acting
consid-
school librarian
college, and she wanted me
thing
to
came
never
ered majoring in drama
a
Sorvino,
Davis
and the theater but
was
child-
a
couple of back-
a
yard plays together.
mother
a
her
co-star
Newsroom
HOPE DAVIS '86
vassar
season
as
a
show, which launched
its second
this
winter, stars Kevin Spacey
conniving, power-hungry poli-
tician. It
was
nominated for nine
Emmys, including best
and best
Spacey
and
actor
and Robin
drama series
nods for
actress
Wright (who
Golden Globe for the role in
won
a
January).
Jaffrey says playing Linda Vasquez is
both challenging and fun. “Linda has her
job not
because of her feminine wiles but
because she’s
smart
as
a
whip,
has a
sense
of the
big political picture, and is totally focused on protecting the president,”
friendly,
she says. “I’m a much more
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
35
beyond
vassar
She says she
her
hopes
will encourage veteran
experience
actors
well as
as
just starting out in the business.
“Maybe getting this job at my age
will
had six months
to
It filmed in Los
Angeles,
life,
that’s
realize
I
want
do with your
to
I look back
okay.
and I
now
lot of what I learned at Vassar
a
applied to
in ways I could
career
my
have
never
Unlike
ing
ridiculously
and talented and
smart
hardworking.
He’s also
a
delightful
Tenney aspired
I wanted
school
says. He
tution where he could
“but I decided
not
find
a
professional actor.”
more
language
and literature
a
go the liberal
to
really glad
several
Tenney considered
but ultimately chose
colleges
Vassar for both
things.
I could
Hatcher) to school every day.”
Tenney has maintained close ties to
Vassar since he graduated. He returned
of 1986 to
summer
an
old
appear in an
the Powerhouse
at
Powerhouse and
Stage and Film became
stronger when he
friend,
was
Leslie
even
reunited with
Urdang, a found-
and
directing producer of New York
Stage
They’ve been together
er
and Film.
since 2005 and
“I
come
married in 2012.
were
back
nearly
every summer
places
can
you
As his career
he
Powerhouse,”
says. “New work needs
development, and
arts
I did.”
so
Teri
with Feslie for The
concentrate
acting after high school,
on
route, and I’m
you could
on, after
in the third
play
solely
long
actor
since
act
cameras
roll,
an
a
take my daughter (Emerson, born
during his marriage to his first wife,
New York
alums,
Vassar. “I knew
at
do other
apprentice production
Theater, and his ties to
early
grade,” Tenney
considered going to an instito
ham and clown.” she says. “But when
start to
be
to
before he enrolled
the
A Chinese
a
venue
for
there aren’t many
do that.”
he has become
continues, Tenney says
increasingly grateful
major at Vassar, Jaffrey took an introductory theater class and fondly remem-
its small student-teacher ratio and its
for his Vassar education. “I think I’m
strong curriculum. He
able
bers
a set
in
the literature I first read
any
acting
design class, but
in
studying
money
I left
college
she
waste
be
to
an
my
She
and considered the
do
anything
began her career
City, taking acting
“I
parents’
But after
actor.
I
careers
could pursue, I realized I couldn’t
I wanted to
did
never
college productions.
felt like I shouldn’t
pretend
waitress—and
a
a
he arrived
founding
was
time
to
do: “I
actors
was
damned good one.”
and
myself
had
to
ous
mind,
Vassar was
political correspondent
Rolling Stone magazine in the 19905.
“That
also did
a
play
2014
all that
at
Vassar,” he
think,
the
‘Wow,
I should have taken
advantage of what was
even
more
offered.’ That
hunger for knowledge never
ends. Louis
Pasteur
said, ‘Chance only favors the
prepared mind,’ and that’s very true.”
to
passion was and
it,” he says. “But I
be
and the
a
good actor
to
degree
you
have
a
curi-
I earned
at
an
a
directing.
In 1984 he
student named Hope Davis
set
in
diner
a
says.
at
“Hope
each other off and
his
WINTER
an
at
a
Ryderf,
New Mexico
stop. “We transformed the
darker than that—but
not
actor
in When You Cornin’ Back, Red
and
maybe
into
some
directed
experience gave me a taste of
the darker side of politics,” Jaffrey
says,
“and obviously House of Cards is even
far from the truth.”
as
because of
context
important part of that.”
In addition to acting at Vassar, Tenney
Tenney
for
Accidentals,
non-Equity
be well educated,
Washington
a
and
also knew that
rest
a
ter
as
a
cappella singing
summers
put things in
“I knew what my
threw
(now 18)
daugh(now 15) with her husband, Francis
Wilkinson, a journalist who covered
a son
was
to
says. “Every time I go back there I
as
soon
Vassar and also
at
member of the
group. He spent his
going
to have
enough work. The
steady enough but she also had
raise
as
Williamstown (MA) Theatre Festival.
seemed
pace
productions
Vassar’s first all-male a
she joined the profession, she
once
always
tal theater
apprentice
Jaffrey took classes for about two
years before auditioning for her first role,
but
departmental and
in New York
lessons and
the way many young
participated
nondepartmen-
else but act.”
auditions while supporting herself
to
36
of his fellow TV
most
was
blessing, an ideal situation. I was
working six months a year and then
in the
anticipated.”
JON TENNEY '84
says she’s thoroughly enjoyher interaction with Spacey. “Kevin’s
“That
real
know what you
Jaffrey
Leigh Johnson,
those
to
inspire older actors
keep on
“And
plugging,” Jaffrey says.
just
remember, if you’re in college and don’t
outgoing person thanLinda. I usually do
comedic or empathic roles, so this power
role was
something a little different.”
main character, Brenda
played by Kyra Sedgwick.
on
Aula,”
and I have
over
seen
the years
recently guest-starred together
The Newsroom. That
Tenney says
eight years
Howard,
on
really fun.”
he thoroughly enjoyed
on
the FBI
was
Ec les
Andrew
Ten ey,
/ Jon
HBO
of
Courtesy
Cum er,
Fritz
and
agent-husband of the
Jafrey
The Closer
as
beyond
Grace
fellow
Gummer
Gummer
heavily
was
student theater
major
at
Vassar but didn’t
plans to
Shortly
pursue
acting
after she arrived
no
as
specific
suggested
she go
career.
house in Rome called Tirelli
campus,
a
small collaborative theater
group “where everybody did
of
fluent in
to
which made and housed
got
the part, and that reignited
I
she
a costume
something
pursue
Costumi,
for
costumes
confident in
was
After
for
professionally.”
filming 18 episodes of
Teen Nick,
world. “I spent
myself forward,” she received
a
platform
be able
to
with little old Italian ladies who
World Award for her
everything—building, designing,
didn’t speak any English, steaming
hats, mending gowns, etc.,” she says.
in Tom
acting, and directing.”
Gummer, who is the daughter of
Meryl Streep ’7l, says: “I was interested
But she missed
so
she
in theater and drama but didn’t consider
to
work
acting
York fashion
Life
as
was
post-college pursuit per se.
simpler at Vassar. I just studied
a
whatever I wanted and what I was
inter-
ested in without the idea of it foreshad-
owing
a
career
path.”
Gummer
adds,
“I
got my theater fix being in Woodshed.”
She double majored in art
history
and
Italian, spending her junior
in Bologna.
year
back from
came
Shortly
home,
as
a
design
play,
‘I
want
Zac Posen.
a
friend
help design
off-off-Broadway
The Sexual
of Our Parents.
“I read the
and the first
to
went
play he was
Village called
in the East
be in
thing
this,”’
Stoppard’s
launch
to
Theatre
a
Broadway
debut
Arcadia. From there
Los
Swiss-German
Neuroses
series
Italy and
intern for New
designer
an
a
to
Gummer says,
of hers asked if she’d
for
me.
was
played Hero in Much Ado About
Nothing at theKirk Douglas Theatre in
after her return,
costumes
it
which she says she used
“as
lot of time sewing
fire in
I loved and wanted
little bit
a
a
knowing
films and opera houses around the
a
and got
callback,
a
designer
Italian,
work in
auditioned,
“I
actor
Gallagher Jr.
learned
costume
When Roth
was
she joined the Woodshed Theater
Ensemble,
Roth.
Gummer
a
on
Ann
she spent a
Vassar,
at
working for
summer
involved in
in drama and had
her time
During
GRACE GUMMER '08
with
Newsroom
John
vassar
I
directing
she
and
John Lithgow’s
in David Auburn’s
drama The Columnist on
directed
by
step-
political
Broadway,
Daniel Sullivan. She
also appeared recently in the Noah
Baumbach ’9l film Frances Ha
In her
new
Gummer
the
Gummer says.
she
(2012).
role in The Newsroom,
plays
journalist covering
was,
thought
Angeles
daughter
trail.
campaign
was
filming
embedded
an
Mitt
on
Simultaneously,
the
VASSAR
Romney
period
drama
QUARTERLY
37
beyond
vassar
and
Jones
shot
Hilary Swank,
Kenya and
was
play
who’s
insane,
an
mute
Her
woman
lost her three children
experience
directly
to
to
what
see
for her.”
store
True Blood led
on
her selection for the
to
Is the New
of
cast
where she
diphtheria in the span of a week on
plains in mid-1800s,” she says.
Black,
Orange
plays Crystal, the wife of a transgender
“The conditions in the
prison
the
desert were
high
harsh wind and snow, all
few weeks
spend a
and then fly back
day
a
first thing he asked
you
for
Angeles
having
want
him
interesting and incredibly
enlightening challenge going from one
who’s
day inhabiting a young woman
lost all reason,
in
Lee
and Orange Is the New Black have
contradictions
sunny
When she read
gradually I
had this
I should be
acting.”
through the latest
moved
Wright
gnawing feeling
Angeles
Los
to
little
Gummer noticed Sorkin had written
she’d somehow succeed. “I didn’t know
joke
Vassar alum. She
and said, ‘“I
He looked
went
being
a
approached Sorkin
Vassar,
to
surprised. It
you know.’
turned out
he
didn’t know.”
than
more
anyone in the
business, stayed
Wright
after she arrived
immediately
acting shortly
envision it
She got her first
business
during
landing
a
a
big
part
Huxtable’s high school
Theo
as
girlfriend
on
but found she wasn’t
all that enamored with
being on
series based
several
at
a
part-time,
she got
an
small role
on
jobs,
the television drama Burke’s Law. “I was
on
for about
screen
lines, but
rehearsing
Wright
those
I worked really hard
two
has since crafted
she did best
at
she says.
lines,”
in show business
career
of
seconds and
two
a
successful
doing
what
Vassar —“a little bit
everything.”
She has
appeared
the hair
every bottle of
goes
Fellow alum Nicole Wood ’l2 is
working
project.
and
says.
family’
Wright
always
behind the
that
was
writing. I thought
something I could do.”
scenes,
She created her
ary
major
comfortable
own
multidisciplin-
Vassar and landed
at
a
job
the New York Times after she
at
“but it wasn’t the kind
graduated,
of
writing
WINTER
I
2014
was
interested
in,
and
Butterfly Rising,
at
screened
was
film festivals in 2011.
numerous
Her role
sheriff,
which
as
Kenya Jones,
in True Blood
after her
portrayal in
supposed to
was
a
the first
episode.
just that one
but
episode,
they kept expanding it,
and I ended
up doing five seasons,”
“It
was
be
deputy
enhanced
woman
to
keep
it ‘in the
remains active in Vassar
alumnae/i
activities, including
the
African American Alumnae/i of Vassar
achieve
more
the Hairiette
on
whenever I can.”
plays and screenplays. She wrote,
directed, and produced the movie
was
Wright
from Vassar—I like
episodes, but I was uncomfortable in
the spotlight, so I stopped,” Wright
says. “I
with
“She’s a terrific young
super-talented actress,” Wright
“I enjoy working with people
a
time
critically acclaimed
numerous
products
care
charity.)
to
television shows and has written several
a
relationship with
adds.
few
and did
my
interactive
an
product line, too,” she
(A portion of the proceeds of
on
got the part
on
hair
a
TV.
“I
of Harlem,
Hairiette
didn’t own
a car, a huge liability in a
sprawling metropolis like Los Angeles.
had two
career.
aware-
oped
her freshman year,
recurring
The Cosby Show,
as
break in show
on
helpful in creating
for my other projects, including
when I got there,” she recalls. She also
agent who landed her
Vassar but didn’t
at
“It’s been
ness
my curly mop-head of hair. I’ve devel-
non-show-business
TANYA WRIGHT '89
faith that
friends’ couches, and had about $2OO
After working
dabbled in
abiding
an
success
opened doors for her. “It’s easier to get
phone calls returned these days, and
I’m getting into rooms
for auditions
been
not
I’ve
in before,” she says.
on
draft of her The Newsroom script,
about her character
says the commercial
Wright
day
next
Pasadena with Aaron Sorkin.”
a
profound experiences
most
of my career.”
Jones in 10-degree weather
Greyhound bus through
a
Is the New Black —it has been
and critical acclaim of True Blood
arguing Romney’s
on
Jodie
I did for
episode
hope, and ability to
world—alongside
covered wagon—to the
a
‘What do you think?’
like,
of the
one
function in the
Tommy
Then he said, ‘Well, do you
to?’ I just paused and looked at
Orange
an
‘Have
was
no.
directed the first
characters,
two
me
worked with Jodie Foster?’
ever
I said
switch back and
to
forth between those
but it was
a
Los
Td
once.
ranch there
for The Newsroom. It
two
or
surreal
was
on
to
at
inmate.
“When I heard from my agent, the
brutal in the spring—torrential rain,
38
I can’t wait
the writers have in
location in New Mexico.
on
“I
which
says. “I have lots of fun with
Wright
The Homesman, with Tommy Lee
College (AAAVC),
at
the
college
and credits her
with
helping
“Vassar
really helped
find my
me
writer and
as
voice, both as a
pendent person in the world,”
“It
to
was
a
exist. At
if
Vassar,
they
an
she says.
didn’t
I had
a
dream and transferred it
world.”
—Larry Hertz
inde-
place that encouraged
things
create
waking
her
success.
me
already
license
over
to
to
my
Kohl of
Tyler
phot s,
MR
MS
//
subject
the
of
Courtesy
beyond
The Wild, Wonderful World of
MS MR
In
September 2012,
young Brooklyn-based
a
music duo released its first
Not
EP, hoping
to
electronic
get noticed.
different from many other bands trying
so
to
make
this duo—MS MR
it in New York
City, right? Except
released the album, Candy Bar Creep Show, through the
popular website Tumblr, packaging each song like its own
—
with artwork and
tiny world complete
approach that appealed to
Part of the
that Lizzy
young, social
a
video. It
Plapinger
an
media-savvy listeners.
of MS MR may be due
success
was
to
the
care
’lO and Max Hershenow ’lO take with
they release. From choosing publicity photos to
directing the artists, directors, and musicians withwhom they
each
song
collaborate,
the
two
carefully curate
Plapinger’s experience
which she started
In
February
as
during
her
2013, MS MR
output from the band.
of the record label Neon Gold,
owner
sophomore
played
year, didn’t hurt.
their song “Flurricane”
television, debuting it on Late
Night with Jimmy Fallon. By May 2013, MS MR had become
chosen as the inaugural musicians
so popular that they were
for MySpace’s new
live video performance series, Live at
for the first time
on
network
the Log Cabin, and in the
ed
on
to
same
month, the
group
Late Show with David Letterman. The band
the
Tonight
Show with
Jay
graduat-
appeared
Lena this past December.
of their new
album, Secondhand
Riding high on the success
in the
MS
MR
a grueling worldwide tour
began
Rapture,
of 2013, circling the globe and playing over 35 festivals
summer
Australia and Europe. Last year, Secondhand Rapture
across
the Billboard Heatseekers chart
peaked on
Alternative Albums chart
both only
a
few years
out
VQ recently spoke to
they plan to
and where
at
#24. For
at
Plapinger
#2 and
on
the
and Hershenow,
of Vassar, this is only the beginning.
the duo about their
take it
music,
its
influences,
next.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
39
beyond
vassar
You've done
lot of social media promotion through
a
Tumblr, where you released
song by song. How did that
L: It
happened
kids,
very
an
EP with art and videos,
organically in that we
clearly 21st-century
are
the way that we’ve been
so
consuming music and finding
always sort of been those outlets and platforms.
something that we both happened to like using
bands has
new
Tumblr
and
was
was
easy way for
an
M: We
us
probably spent $5OO
until we
over
the whole recording process
on
mixed the album, and I think that
into the visual side of
going
communicate and share ideas.
to
be
to
listening
to
things.
doing this meant
that we
the business side of
anything
about?
come
to
on
you hear
or
see
since
press release
or
weren’t
we
then,
even
photos
creatively—-
The control
us.
ever
the
at
going
beginning that
be
to
let
pushed around,
as
the
project
has grown,
go
out
without
us
no
seeing them.
ethos carried
same
We realized that people
were
It's interesting to
see
an
increase in the number of
electronic bands that
our
are
music in this environment of
duos. Is it easier to work
their computer screen, and
as
could
create
around
the
a
music without
our
help
we
virtual world
a
of labels
or
pair, rather than with
a
larger group?
L: We’re both control
other
it’s easy for
so
By the
record deal,
us
back and forth and
time
hash
signed a
had a really well-defined
we
of who
sense
challenge
a
M: The internal
That’s
of
the core
of the band.
having
L: I think that first Tumblr
much
EP
difficult
was
claim of that
our
identity and our
ideals about
mixed media. To be able
release
with
a
song, with
our
to
remix
homemade
video,
join us
photograph
been made surrounding that
time,
are
them all in
to
important
to
see
ourselves
and it’s fun to
project,
the
because
it means
so
of
two
a
working with two
other musicians affected
your music?
and forms
close with
expression.
When you
page. Who does it?
fun
Tyler Kohlhoff.
He
photographer looking to
and clicked
of
our
to
help
team
and
us
develop
the album EP
of artists
we
was
a
someone
cover
as
We had
start.
a
really
one
aesthetic,
well. We have
a
meeting
critical member
continue to go back
we
visual
our
up-and-coming
very new,
get his
off the bat. He became
right
incredibly
drummer Zach
our
Nicita, who’s becoming a
producer in his own right.
figures prominently
in the look of your Tumblr
L:
and he
to
in order
actually shot
young, ragtag
team
work with who people should pay attention
to
new
directions. That’s what music making
M:
The other member
is David
meet
musicians,
do you think being the
understanding
the process
owner
helped
of
a
you to
really should
Lizmi,
who’s
a
more
agency
behind MS MR?
L:
Absolutely. Having worked in the industry for
WINTER
2014
be.
multi-
instrumentalistwho
plays bass, and synth, and omnichord.
It’s great. The two
them
of
really bring out this more acoustic,
rockier element in the tracks. The music’s
definitely evolved a
lot from their influence.
to.
record label and
put
it’s
have them push you in
Did you take the electronic music class while
you
Lizzy,
lives
our
little bit.
L: We’ve gotten
Art
There
nuts.
externalpeople in
vary it up
it’s
all the
us
would really
we
translated through other media
of
we
other musicianswho
How has
artists,
as
your vision
see
but
Music is
us.
the forefront of this
but we
music,
the road,
on
drive each other
space and that
The two
navigate.
onstage,
just
not
project—tying those elements
together, we were
unifying
was
to
write all the
us
have two
that had
one
more
dynamics
big group is
complicated and
a
whilewe’re
a
with a
of
with
people.
more
aesthetically and musically.
at
quickly
idea. I thinkthat
an
would be
were, both
we
out
freaks,
share ideas
to
outside marketers.
we
40
have
we
It’s very
empowering.
know how much power they have.
very distinct choices
some
everyone know that
ever
from
unparalleled.
M: I don’t think artists
and
greater understanding of how
a
stems
the back end is also
We made
had
things works. We’re in control
L: We both took it. It
of the
I actually
reasons
the college. I was reading through the course
applied
catalogue and read about the electronic music class and
to
three years prior
were
at Vassar?
was
one
Kohl of
Tyler
beyond
about it. It
really excited
was
M: It
was
get into. I finally weaseled
class to
was
introduction
an
to
super-competitive
a
my way in.
lot of the electronic software
a
programs, and it included a free download of [songwriting
and mixing tool] Logic, which was really expensive back then.
L: There
also
were
a
few other programs from the ’Bos that
super-experimental that were
were
sounds
creating
color and physically manipulating sound waves.
fun. I thinkthat
and
minds
genuinely opened
manipulating sounds in new ways.
our
really
experimenting
Were there other ways in which Vassar facilitated your
development
L: I was
a
musicians and artists?
as
major and Max
media studies
was
an
urban studies
than
major, both of which are interdisciplinary. That, more
claim
had
the
ultimate
We
impact.
anything else,
very proudly
ourselves as a collage and mixed-media-based project. The
theory that we learned through
was
instrumental in what we
because of those
I
be
started. That
Vassar
We
were
art
theory courses
having
The dance program
doing that,
over
IVE In Australia. We
played a
Grass in Byron
We
Bay.
know the
lyrics
before
even
so
loud. It
L:
People
tent.
we
was
far
as
really
wasn’t just
It
this
we
we
to
time
me
project.
and I’ve used
I wrote
pieces of them
have with people like Lisa—whom
husband and her class that was
Vassar continues to
every time
an
our
song
most
or
us.
We’re so
EP is released
appreciative that
we
get messages
from students, teachers, and people from ACDC. It’s
really
of support still really exists after
incredible. That
community
school. It’s special to be traveling the world and touching base
with other students and friends who are doing amazing things in
Plus, people like Lisa, Colleen Cohen [anthropology
studies] and Michael Joyce [English] had a
both of us becoming the people we are.
influence
on
profound
add
M: I would
Steve Rooks [dance] and Kathy Wildberger
other cities.
and women’s
[dance
and
like at Vassar when you
the music scene
were
students?
music
scene
so
seeing the
things
about
going to
really special.
I had
a
Vassar was
show
at
amazing
—the most
more
than
such
are
doing
club
a
much
to
bigger
different
a
experience.
crowds than you
other bands and go
meet
bands
same
world and then you gain
might
at
a
other people’s
see
various festivals all
rapport. It’s been really,
a
yet,
are
that way. You
camp in
summer
at
travel
concentrated
most
the
over
nice.
really
Are you able to write songs while you're
L:
Writing on
thought we’d
in
on
the road is
do
to
the other hand,
such
a
challenge, and something we
alone, you’re always
of. You’re never
more
It’s hard
a car.
a
the road?
on
find your
huge lifestyle change
space and time.
own
do three
can
four tracks
or
and shift for
a
Max,
day.
It’s
that we’re keen
us
headspaces with that.
chance to meet
people, but it’s not
different headspace, and
That’s
a
creative.
completely
particularly
focus, but we’re both
M: Touring is fun. It’s a
to
in different
jump backand forth and figure out
it’s hard to
how to meshthe two.
that the
shows
being
put
on.
going to
M: We have
for
take
a
some
a
tour
in the U.S. this year. It’s
going
few festivals in the works. But we’re
time off and
with our
reconnect
to
be
busy.
going to
try
creative selves
second. Stay tuned!
WVKR all
four years with my friend Kyra. All my hands-on experience
really started because of the music vibe at Vassar, and there
were
or
period. Festivals
and it feels like band
shows,
35
fans that don’t know who you
over
you’re playing
to
was
last
a row
So, what's next?
drama].
L: One of the best
Beyonce.
date in the
to
experience
win
to
L: We’re
What was
It’s
played.
ever
show with her
recent
studying in London —is amazing.
rally around
album or
we
lot of festivals in
a
L: I think it was
into my senior
at
just spilling out of the
people singing along.
of the show you dreamed of when you
we’ve done
project.
in London
screaming
were
summer—that must have been intense.
actually
start
actually just saw
a
You played
club gig. You get to
L: I think the relationship
to
exceeded
started the band.
too.
project
12,000
of them seemed
handful of
the wildest show
was
sort
means
super open
those tracks for my senior
expectations
there were
people
your eyes could see,
as
music and architectural
in this
onstage because
in the
pretty wild!
and the Urban Studies
design
a
Splendour
our
songs. The decibel limit was
our
went
was
And it
to
You get
open,
expected
lot and
totally exceeded. We got there and
people at the show and every single one
Program
My adviser Lisa Brawley [urban studies and
American studies] and I figured out away to incorporate dance
was
festival called
were
whole piece.
a
world tour last summer.
a
Where did you encounter the craziest audiences?
started recording music. I love the idea of
absolute control
student.]
a
excited about music.
so
into dance.
the first time I
was
while
ViCE,
or
M: You feel like
really
[Plapinger chaired
shows.
awesome
exciting—you two did
Talk about
now.
choreographer before
a
were
College Entertainment,
lucky that people were
courses.
in VRDT and was
thought Ed
Girl Talk—those
thoughtful
process and what our
our
M: I was
doing
informed and
We’re much more
about
those foundation
are
of Matt and Kim’s first-ever
one
amazing. I think I saw
of
Beach
House’s
first-ever shows. I remember
and
one
shows,
M.I.A. was the first thing I booked, TYOTR, Flosstradamus,
through
That was
to
vassar
ViCE in the
Mug
was
Dakota
Visit
And
Kim
(@dakotakiml) is
vq.vassar.edu
check
out
MS
to
MB's
see
Tumblr
some
a
of
page:
writer
MS
living in
MB's
most
Brooklyn, NY.
popular
videos.
msmrmusic.tumblr.com.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
41
beyond
vassar
JUDGE MILES-LAGRANGE
INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
Miles-LaGrange’s
16, Vicki MilesLaGrange ’74 learn-
At
age
ed
lesson
a painful
inequality. As
about
recounts, after
whelmingly
peers
being
elected
her
U.S.
over-
416
Governor of the
as
1970 Oklahoma Girls
Committee
to
the
State,
was
rights
the
and Sudan. She
because
tradition had been
Auxiliary
that
THE OPPORTUNITY OF A
represent Oklahoma at Girls’
Award,
LIFETIME,”
swallow, I had good parents
take it personally and to keep
to
to
she says.
moving forward,”
And move
forward,
her
to
career
Courageous Lawyer Award,
and the Oklahoma Public School Foundation Wall of Fame
HumanitarianAward. In
equality
for all people. In
shape
addition, she
recently awarded
was
Award for her civil and humanrights work.
government at
Western District of Oklahoma. In
Vassar and then
appointed by President Clinton as the
Circuit,
and in
1994,
she
again
first black federal judge
was
2008, invested
as
the
young age.
appreciate social studies and
She graduated cum
laude from
went
earn
Miles-LaGrange learned
1993,
President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Attorney for the
in the six-state 10th
the Oklahoma Bar
the Federal Bar Association’s Sarah T. Hughes Civil Rights
she did. The incident would
advocate for
a
where she
University,
“My dad always
on
was
to
to
her law
degree at Howard
editor of the Howard Law Journal.
an
said education
was
away up and away
first black Chief U.S. District Judge in the Western District
out,” Miles-LaGrange told the Oklahoman. “In
of Oklahoma. She also
was
was
the first black
elected
woman
to
the Oklahoma State Senate.
can
ceremony. Induction is the highest honor Oklahomans
receive for their contributions to
six other
gallery
at
inductees,
whose
the Oklahoma
the
will
portraits
Heritage
She
state.
joined
hang in a
Association’s
Gaylord-
Pickens Museum.
During the
District
Judge
ceremony, Richard Roberts
for the District of
Columbia,
to
’74,
Chief U.S.
introduced his
bring impartiality
the
judicial system.
“She’s tough as nails,
after the
but she
event.
as
fair as they come,”
“I can’t promise you that all of
certainly
it
says she would like to be remembered as more
than a series of “firsts.” “Above, all, I’m a career
public servant,”
she
It all goes back
notes.
is. Vicki’s parents
were
us
are
he said
that way,
teachers who
came
hard for what they got. They
to
President
John F. Kennedy’s
“Ask not
what your country can
country” speech.
the
president a
do for you; ask whatyou can do for your
She says she was so moved by it that she wrote
letter that was
The letter hangs on
month,
the wall of her chambers
her country whenher duties
over
new
She
citizens and
as
can
over
note
want
her own
today.
to
“I look into the faces
their eagerness and excitement
responsibilities of citizenship,”
often be found
grounds who
of his advisers.
important it is to serve
Chief Judge enable her to preside
monthly naturalization proceedings.
of our
back
answered by one
she is reminded of how
about the privileges and
but she’s
up the hard way and worked
house,
nonnegotiable.”
Each
former classmate and praised her desire
to
our
Miles-LaGrange
On November 7 of last year Miles-LaGrange was
inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in an Oklahoma
City
Journal
Association’s Fern Holland
SAYS JUDGE MILES-LAGRANGE.
bitter pill
not
recog-
Record Woman of the Year
Nation in DC.
me
was
with the Oklahoma
“THE CHANCE TO SERVE OTHERS HAS BEEN
Governor and Lt. Governor to
a
including
nized for her work in Rwanda
selected the
“Although it was
who encouraged
in countries
Rwanda, China, Brazil, Russia,
“Negro.” The
a
rule of
law work in civil and human
opportunity
Washington, DC,
International
Judicial
role, she engaged in
represent Oklahoma in
she
on
Relations. In that
sponsored by the American
Legion Auxiliary, she was
denied
justice led to
appointment by the late
Supreme Court Chief
Justice William Rehnquist to
the U.S. Judicial Conference
she
by
orien-
tation toward
she says.
mentoring students of various backin public service. Looking
pursue careers
career, she
concludes,
“For
a
kid who loved
social studies and government as much as I did, the chance to
Asociatn
Heritage
Oklahom
the
of
instilled in their children a tremendous work ethic and had
them abide
42
WINTER
by what’s right
2014
and
always do
the right
thing.”
serve
others has been the
—Andy Faught
opportunity of
a
lifetime.”
Courtesy
mixed media
The
Accidental
Native a
Bear
T
'
'
I
novel
a
by
J.L. Torres
Avery Chenoweth
NONFICTION
I Know Who
What You
You
Did:
Are
and
I Saw
Social Networks
Essays
in
Memory of Richard
Adventures
Davonte's Inferno:
Ten Years
of Privacy
by Lori Andrews 74
Edited by Roze Hentschell '92
Public School Gulag
and Kathy Lavezzo
by Laurel
Simon & Schuster, 2013
University of Delaware Press,
Nortia Press, 2013
Small World Books, 2009
and the Death
in the
M.
New
York
in Atomville:
Helgerson: Laureations
The Macroscope
by Jill
Linzand
Cindy
Schwarz, Professor of Physics
Sturt'77
2011
Cutting Along the
Color
Black Barbers and
Barber
Line:
Dutiful Daughter:
Emma
Moral Education for Women in
A Foreign Student
by Sheldon Cashdan
in America
the Pastoral and Pythagorean
at Vassar
by Quincy T. Mills, Associate
Letters: Philosophers of
by Josina
Professor of History
the
Xlibris, 2013
University of Pennsylvania
by Rev. Dr.
Press,
Brill
Shops
2013
Household
Annette
Publishing, Netherlands,
Warsaw: Memoirs of an
Teacher
in Poland
Kill for Peace:
American
Artists
by Anne Waterman Cooley '46
Against the Vietnam War
Global-Local Caravan, 2011
Israel
'OO
by Matthew
University ofTexas Press,
Summit Press
der
van
POETRY
Ancestral Intelligence:
Marcus Wiener
Renditions
Publishers, 2012
by Vera Schwarcz '69
2013
Red
Burgundy
by Sally Bixby Defty '53
and the Legacy of the
CreateSpace, 2012
Self-published, 2012
History, Memory, Tradition
The Man in the Monster
Routledge, 2013
Kuriloff
Third
Reich:
'BO
Falasco,Teacher,
Martin Sisters Publishing, 2013
Loves
Company
Directed by Lori
Arden 'll
2012
'74
by Jane Mead
Water
Water
A Devil in Disguise
'BO
by Megan Crane'94
(pseudonym: Caitlin Crews)
Alice James Books, 2014
Calm: Discovering
Harlequin, 2012
Solutions to the Everyday
Daily Life of Victorian Women
Problems
by Lydia
Living with
Autism
by Martha Gabler 74
by Avery Chenoweth 'BO
Money Money Money |
Redleaf
Press, 2013
Radical Doubt
Amazon Kindle, 2013
Water
Murdoch
'92
Announcements
The Accidental Native
Greenwood Press, 2013
by J.L.
TAGteach International, 2013
Torres'76
Arte Publico Press, 2013
Diary of an Expat in Singapore
Couples Facing Cancer Together
A
by JenniferGargiulo'9l
by Dan Shapiro 'BB
by Megan
Marshall Cavendish, 2013
Trumpeter, 2013
(pseudonym: Caitlin Crews)
Royal Without Rules
of Love and Loss in a
Years
Family of
the Hudson River Valley
Gillotti '6O
or
music releases
vq@vassar.edu
Crane'94
Harlequin, 2013
Women of Privilege: 100
about publications
may be sent to
And in Health: A Guide for
by Susan
Misery
Love Crazy
Wimpfheimer Nursery School
of
FILM
Shore '56
Visually Hidden Productions,
by Laurien Berenson
by Selby Fleming McPhee '65
to
Poems
Kensington Books, 2013
2014
Teaching Twos and Threes:
A Comprehensive Curriculum
Chaos
Zimmerman
Gone with the Woof
by Martha Elliott 73
Deborah
and
FICTION
by Joan
by
Books, 2013
(Protagonist attends Vassar)
by William Miles'77
Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Penguin,
'55
Jews of Nigeria
William Keeney Bixby
A.
Maas
Antrim House, 2013
Passionate Pursuits;
by Emily
N.
Huizenga 74
2013
American
von
Deadlines
Along theRiver Road: Past and
Present
on
Louisiana's Historic
by Mary
Ann
Sternberg
The
Skin
I'm
by Dr. M.J.
Byway (3rd edition)
'65
Academy Chicago Publishers,
Louisiana State University Press,
2013
2013
In
Price'93
PublishAmerica, 2013
Spring!Summer: April
1
Fall: July 1
Winter: November '/
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
43
yesterday
vassar
Fightfor the Gridiron
Vassar
mf
m
In
■ ||||
k egn
That’s not
had a football
say the sport has
to
never
considered
enrolled on
admitted veterans
they’ve
come
the GI Bill.
Quite
a
few women’s
in order to accommodate the throngs
be called,
to
sought
form
to
a team
The year 1946
of the
“games
college football
of the century”
played.
was
It
was
between Notre Dame and Army that ended in
writers
Dame
the country ranked the
across
out
came
According to
Sports
teams, and Notre
two
article inthe October
19,1946,
Chronicle —which details the story from
had eagerly planned for the season,
start
to
issue of Vassar
finish—the
vets
gathering information about
and training schedules.
uniforms, insurance,
“Hopes were high,”
But
as
wrote
columnist Jack Schwarzschild.
the din for Vassar football grew, it was
printed
in the New York Times
the
students
at
Vassar
of the men
challenge. Many
although there had been no
made its
to
at
two
quickly quieted by
talk of
a statement
days earlier: “Naturally
eager
have
to
played
a team
must
WINTER
2014
at
not
wrote
and Money—A Modest
Vassar,”
say
no
veterans
“Football, Vassar
Proposal: The Case
in whichhe recommended
department’s budget
skilled athletes in all sports.
would offer
14,1992, edition of the Miscellany
myriad benefits
to
in the
hopes
of
increasing
attracting more
football team, he wrote,
Having
the school, including an
a
increase in
alumnae/i involvement and a game to anchorFamilies Weekend.
16,1994, edition
of the Miscellany News,
McKay ’9B published an
Football,” lauding the sport’s
assistant sports editor Shannon
op-ed, “Yearning for Vassar
positive attributes. She cites the Ivy Teague colleges that
do
would engage alumni.
Not all of
In the
McKay’s fellow students were in favor of the sport.
following issue of the Miscellany News, David Dening ’9B
overshadow other sports—not
to
to
the intermural sports offered
policy did
calls for Vassar to reconsider
football before
and,
any football
includedVassar’s lack of football
and coaches. She asked the
that college
sporadic
In the February
wrote
shenanigans and
to
the previous week’s
and its
facilities,
restrict their
on
campus,
encourage intercollegiate sports.
tendency to
mention the fraternity-house-
other unsavory issues associated with
gridiron.
While football has
it
and former
vet
firm.
that he was
“mildly startled” to see
column, considering football’s expense
a team
to
Vassar
accept the Skidmore
Vassar.”
noting
the athletic
the
athletic activities
position.
for Football
like
equipment,
decision was
There have since been
challenge, the veterans, when they heard of it, hoped
together.
“However, the college feels
get
Alas, Blanding’s
here before Skidmore
Blanding’s rationale
44
were
a
have football programs and also noted her belief that the sport
Vassar’s president Sarah Gibson Blanding, who issued
men
quoted Orland Fiandaca,
In the September
top.
on
an
0-0 tie.
a
one
found
University of Arizona football player, who confidently stated,
“Without doubt, the ‘Skidorites’ would be easily taken over.”
Athletics, Recruiting,
showdown
a
of encouragement were
notes
News, sports editor Dennis O’Brien ’92
season, and
According to the
signed petitions in
in the veterans’ mailboxes.
Dozens of
banner year for American college foot-
a
was
over.
after being
at
the first postwar
was
not
was
than 300 students
more
this
Skidmore College.
challenged by an all-vet
former Gls jumped at the chance.
team
ball. It
for football
Chronicle,
The article
its first male students. By the fall, 90
of soldiers returning home from World War 11. The “Vassar Vets,”
as
fight
support of the sport, and
' 'iiiapr
were
But the
course, is that Vassar has never
1946, Vassar admitted
colleges
1861,”
Vassar
team.
former soldiers
undefeated since
football,
reads the popular T-shirt. The joke, of
at
taken root
never
Vassar, the college has
changed its policies dramatically when it comes to intercollegiate
sports. It has boasted nationally ranked rugby, tennis, basketball,
volleyball, and squash teams, and the Brewers often go to the
All-Tiberty Teague
and All-America games.
Vassar remains undefeated in football.
—Debbie
Swartz
Colectins
Special
and
Archives
Vas ar
class notes
Deadlines
for submission of
For
publication in
the
following schedule.
pondents’ contact
to:
Vassar
Class
Notes
given issue, be sure
a
Winter
Issue
columns
to
have
November
above their
information appears
124
Raymond Avenue,
Vassar
Quarterly
Quarterly,
Box
to
news
your
1.
Vassar
to
Spring/Summer Issue
Edith Eyman Briner wrote
a
note
to
647
the Class of
year. She had been assistant corporate secretary of
the Ethyl Corporation in New York City. She is
survived by her daughter,
two grandchildren, four
great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.” Our sincere sympathy, Edith.
Frechtling, who died
Porch
in
Sept. 2013, continued her education at the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health, working in the research lab of the James
Buchanan Brady Institute. Married
to Dr. Louis
E.
Frechtling, she was an avid traveler, line
dancer, and bridge player into her 90s. She is
survived by a son, daughter, grandson, and three
great-grandsons. Her sister Margaret Porch
Lounsbury ’4l informed us of her death.
Griefen, who died in Nov.
“a gentle person, deeply committed
Faith
Adams
2013, was
to racial justice and generous in her support of
worthy causes and liberal politics,” according to
the obituary in The Boston Globe. Faith was an
early donor and on the advisory board for the
Eyes on the Brize PBS documentary series on the
Civil Rights Movement. As part of the Cambridge
Mothers Club, she worked on a voter registration
drive in Mississippi in the 19605, sleeping on the
floor of her hosts’ home
in advance
to
avoid getting shot by
passing white supremacists. She is survived by
three sons, as well as grandchildren and greatto
class
your
March
a career
1. Pall
Issue
without
an
July
1. Corres-
correspondents, send
email:
as
of publication.
correspondent on
classnotes@vassar.edu.
oceanographic
working at
a
acous-
research station in
MaryPayson worked as
confidential file clerk as needed at the research
station and was
“My mother, Esther
Stapley
Wojtul, passed away in May of 2012, in her 97th
Louise
or
Bermuda. In Bermuda,
a
1937. She writes:
Mary
began
tical physicist
124 Raymond Avenue, Box
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
classnotes@vassar.edu
months
VQ office
For classes
respective columns.
or
647, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
and
37
three
are
the
active in local charitable efforts.
She also sang with The Bermuda Philharmonic
Society. After 25 years in Bermuda, they moved
to Cocoa Beach, FT, where she worked as a freelance wordsmith and continued
to
volunteer,
delivering Meals on Wheels and working on
efforts to keep the beaches clean. She is survived
by her children, Ann Burden Hartdegen, Carl E.
Hartdegen, and Cynthia Payson Hartdegen and
her wife, Kate Deviny, as well as grandchildren,
one
great-grandson, in-laws, out-laws, her devoted caregivers, and nieces and nephews.
Aroline
Pitman
Chapin,who died in January,
spent the first part of her life on the East Coast,
but in the late 1960 s moved to San Diego,
confessing that she never missed the harsh New
England winters. She loved to travel, and her
volunteerwork included travel advice to delegates
of the UN, and the local hospital andTravelers’
Aid, which allowed her to use Spanish, her Vassar
major. An avid reader, Aroline faced the challenge of rapidly failing vision by becoming one
of the best customers
of the San Diego Braille
Institute’s audio book program. She is survived
by
a son
and daughter,
as
well
as
grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
We don’t have room
to include the full obituaries for these women,
me
but feel free to contact
via email
like
(classnotes@vassar.edu) if you would
an
obituary
copy of
—Rebecca Hyde ’92
a
we
have on file.
grandchildren.
I wish I had room
aries for these
include the full obitu-
to
Feel free
women.
to
contact
me
(classnotes@vassar.edu) if you would
have on file.
like a copy of an obituary we
—Rebecca Hyde ’92
via email
39
7
5TH
Vassar Quarterly
124
Raymond Avenue, Box
647
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
classnotes@vassar.edu
REUNION
Our
to
sympathy
let
us
to
Carl
Hartdegen, who wrote
mother, Mary Payson
know that his
Hartdegen, died in December at home
surrounded by her children. After graduating
from Vassar, she worked in New York City at U.S.
Rubber (later Uniroyal). In 1947, she married
Greene
Carl Hartdegen 111, a U.S. naval officer. She lived
various naval installa-
with her husband near
tions until 1956 when he resigned his commission
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
45
colonial farmhouse in Maine, and where Elyot
taught both art and music at a nearby school, Syd
filled her life with music, with volunteer work,
employment in the medical
department of a nearby hospital. Elyot
and with part-time
records
died in 1975. Survivors include three children—
Peter, Sarah Wiehe, and Anne Finucane—two
grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Grosman
Margaret Lewis
(Aug. 9, 2013).
Margie majored in early childhood development.
After her marriage and move
to Skaneateles, she
helped found the Early Childhood Development
Center. Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts
were
her volunteer activities. Eater she
was
a
among
board
member of the library, a Faubach literacy volunteer, and a volunteer for nine years for the hospice
She was also active in the
program in her area.
leadership of her church. Margie is survived
by her husband, Charles, her children, Janet,
William, and Charles, and two grandchildren.
Virginia Morss
Galpin Crossley (Sept. 7,
2013). Following graduation, Ginny took further
training to become a teacher. In 1943, she married
Samuel Galpin, and they had four boys in the
five
In
next
years, whichkept her busy at home.
1958, Ginny suffered a stroke. After recovery, her
teaching was mostly volunteer help at the nearby
school. Teaching for Ginny was
always a joy.
the author of
She also enjoyed sailing and was
The Oystering Industry of New Haven. Samuel
Galpin died in Nov. 1990. Ginny moved to a
retirement community and there she met Erskine
Crossley. They were married in Aug. 1999. Ginny
is survived by Erskine; her four sons,
Samuel,
Henry, George, Amos; her twin sister, our Eleanor
Morss
English;
grandchildren;
seven
and four
(Aug. 19, 2013)
died after a long taxing illness. Betty served as a
clerk in the high school library of South Portland,
ME, from the 1960 s to 1976. Her husband,
Austin, died in 2006. A daughter, Anne, died in
1982. She is survived by her daughter Margaret,
two
grandsons, and three great-grandchildren.
Sandy
42
41
Molly Bigelow
2925
Lincoln
Roseville, MN
McMillan
651.628.3873
mbmcmls@comcast.net
After
son
bad bout of pneumonia last spring, my
Richard gathered me up and took me east to
a
granddaughter’s wedding and a visit with his
family. It was a wonderful chanceto get acquainted with great-grandchildren. Back home,
jigsaw
puzzles, sudoku, bridge, and teaching Bible fill
the days. And have I reported that my Spanish
granddaughter played beach volleyball for Spain
in the Olympics. She and her partner continue to
win medals as they play around the world. I’m
hoping to see her on the podium in Rio in 2016.
We are saddened always by the
passing of
a
our
classmates.
Sydney Elliot
Henderson
(June 20, 2013).
Syd wrote me many notes that gave me occasional
information but mostly recalled
snips of current
her happy years at Vassar, not only as a student
but as a faculty wife while her husband, Elyot,
taught painting. Moving, in 1950, to Elyot’s
46
WINTER
2014
to see her son, and a grandvisiting from Hong Kong.
I’m sad to report that just before my VQ
deadline, I learned that Eleanor, known to many
of you as Stoddy, died on Jan. 7.1 promise to write
in the
about her impressive life and career
more
issue. Send me
next
to
Quarterly
Raymond Avenue, Box
We received word of the death of Mary
Ferguson Sullivan, on March 27,2013. Among
her many volunteer commitments, Mary was
at
time chair of the Western New York Vassar
one
Scholarship
pleasure
Brooklyn
Fund. Her
to
daughter Elizabeth (Fisa)
that her mother
Sullivan Bond ’7l
wrote
particularly proud
of her involvement in inter-
was
viewing prospective Vassar applicants, and many
of the students kept in touch with her for years.
Mary was a chemistry major at Vassar and after
graduation worked at Buffalo General Hospital,
where she met her husband, the late James R.
Sullivan, MD. She was the mother of the late
James C. “Mike” Sullivan, 11, as well as Fisa Bond
of Needham, MA, and Kenneth F. Sullivan of
New York City; she was
also a grandmother.
The obituary notes:
“Her enthusiasm, interest in
life, and sense of humor were contagious andshe
instilled loyalty and love from those who worked
with her. Our sincere sympathy to Mary’s family
”
and friends.
A note from Susanna
Massey arrived
Klaar
my deadline. I will have to save
for the next issue—l have already
Susanna’s news
just before
I
enjoy writing the
Kathryn
43
Liane
not
McNeil
Atlas
New
Hampshire Ave
Apt 518
Washington, DC 20037-2407
NW
202.342.0919
lianedc@gmail.com
us
turned up for Reunion! Ruth
Mulford
Dupont Lord, Nancy
Helen
Murphy,
Buchanan, Martha
Shepard
Teasdale, Liane
Vernlund, Phyllis Davison
Danforth
Wiener
Atlas, Anne
Reed
Dean,
Ruth
Dawson
Straus, Elizabeth
(Betty) Myerson Tableman,
Mary Liz Armstrong Lyons, and Kathryn
Kendrick
McNeil.
Alumnae House
Museum and the National Portrait
Gallery in Washington, DC, and one of her sculpis on
tures
permanent display in the National Arts
Museum. Although a sculptor first and foremost,
she also draws and paints; since moving to smaller
quarters in Manhattan, she has been sticking
her two-dimensionalwork. This past
to
August,
Judith and her artist daughter Elizabeth exhibited together at the Point
Boutique and Framing
Gallery inPoint Lookout, NY; and in December,
Kendrick
Wiener
700
647
talk
for 1942, but I’m
notes
1942 alumna. Speak up if you would like to
volunteer for the job!—Rebecca Hyde ’92
a
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
classnotes@vassar.edu
by phone with Judith
Lieberman
Pestronk, who is enjoying the New
York City art scene while continuing to exhibit work of her own.
Judith was a professor of
art at Nassau Community College and received
many distinctions and awards for her sculpture
and jewelry. Her pieces are in collections at the
a
if you have memories
note
a
share.
Eleven of
What
daugh-
daughter who was
Nichols
Drive, #713
55113
Fois’s
Jawdat.
traveledto England
Vassar
124
Goan
Eleni Houghton ’B2, visiting from Pittsburgh,
also joined the group for lunch. Fois has done
a bit of traveling—just before Christmas, she
ter
reached my word limit for this issue.
great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth
Stoddard and Ellen
at our
was
hours with comfortable
rooms,
disposal
for 36
breakfast and
dinner, and a staff alwaysready to help. The first
the welcoming cocktail party Friday
was
night at whichPresident Hill joined us. We had
all changed in 70 years, and anticipation and
pleasure combined as we did our best to recolevent
lect one
another from old memories. Some of us
company, and as they were
brought daughters for
all about the
Salmagundi
same
age, they enjoyed watching
their mothers reminisce with their old friends.
silver and gems. What an impressive career, Judy.
and Reunion Day
Club in New York exhibited her
work and she won
award for a sculpture of
an
Judy
put
me
in touch with Lois
Chapman
Houghton, who lives in Washington, DC. Fois
had lunch this past September with Eleanor
By Saturday, therains of Friday disappeared,
was
warm
and sunny
as
our
little group led theparade right behind the drumand-fife corps, each of us wearing our reunion
straw
hats with Vassar College in red letters
on
the
and
little golf carts,
band, riding in our smart
waving back at the younger classes as we
all wound
our
the auditorium. There
way to
1,156 people who turned out for the
Convocation, and the excitement mounted as
the reunion classes announced their totals. Liane
were
Atlas announced ours:
$2,383,000!
Dorothy Seiberling’s marvelous gift of 18
paintings of Old Masters and modern ones
brought us to that record. For the first time ever,
Vassar’s Annual Fund drive reached
she and her 95-year-old
husband have happily moved to their home on
Shelter Island from NYC, and love being back
the men we knew away at war. I described to her
how Vassar looks today with male students all
the campus!
over
44
in which
“they help
themselves, arranging
outings to theater and garden shows.” She assists
with reading at a nearby school, and her son
and his wife live
nearby. She has 11 grandchildren andfive great-grandchildren. Her daughter
the recipient of thePulitzer Prize! “Am I not
was
run
0TH
7
who is on that list, or to add
check out the reunion website: alums.
see
ago to be
to
Santa Monica three years
her son
near
Alex and his wife, Sarah.
knownto her friends and family,
she was
an
enthusiasticbird-watcher and gardener
avid reader. After Vassar, Kit earned a
degree in library science from Rutgers U.
“Kit’s curiosity, dry humor and sharp intelligence
will be missed,” Sarah writes. Kit is survived
by
her sister, Adele Vail of Ignacio, CO, and two
sons, James of Berkeley, and Alex of Santa
Monica. —Rebecca
Hyde ’92
the setting of several of
country mansions, was
Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pemberly, home of
Lord Darcy. Each year for the past six, Betty has
enjoyed a family reunion abroad with her sister
and her children and grandchildren. Of course
it
rained during a performance of The Taming of
the Shrew, “but gently,” she added. Betty is still
active in the certification of infant mental health
agencies
in
ing
interest in
Bethia
poetry,” she said.
Smith Currie
died in
July 2013.
She
graduated magna cum laude from Vassar with a
degree in English literature, going on to get her
doctorate and teaching at the U. of Connecticut.
She loved music and
was
a
singer, woodwind
player, and performed locally.
Charity Crocker Cole passed
away in
May
Charity was a Fulbright Scholar and earned
a doctorate in
biochemistry. Born in Brazil, she
had a gift for languages that opened her life to
many friends and cultures.
In March 2013, Barlow
died in the same
Westport,
CT.
Cutler-Wotton
home in which she was
born in
short time
working
Except for
draftsman for
a
naval architecture firm in
World War 11, she spent herlife working on many
as
a
45
Anne
conservation
a
saving 1,000 acres
historic houses.
in
Westport, including
of open space and preserving
projects
so
Says she, “So far,
Gloria, for a
Roberts.
good.” Thank you and,
wow,
fabulous report.
Elizabeth (Betty) Carpenter Davis died
June
2,2013. A graduate of the Ethel Walker School,
she was a member of the Women’s Republican
Club and was
instrumental in restoring the
Clinton Town Hall. She
equestrian, riding
both
a
was
an
accomplished
English and western; she
of the hounds and
master
a
trail rider. She
“Betty is survived by her
dear friend Norma Dolan and
many valued and
loved extended family members and innumerable
very dedicated and close friends.”
Helen
Bruce
Thomas
survived by three
was
children when she died April 23, 2013. She
attended Foxcroft School; after Vassar, she earned
her nursing degree at Johns Hopkins School of
Nursing. Her son said she went power sailing in
Florida whenshe was 84—“she was
always up
for
adventure.”
an
extended
Wood
3300
-4
large
family. She graduated from the Holton
Arms School; she was
avid tennis player; she
an
was
a founding member of the Children’s Art
(Sis) Carrington
Darby Road, Apt.
Haverford, PA 19041
5208
Museum of
610.642.9963
extra
anne22wood@gmail.com
a
Lee
Hewitt
tells of Barbara
Wiehl
Simpson and
Caroline
Johnson Whipple in
retirement
community almost next
Beach, FL; nearby are Muggie
Hardy and Judy Adams
summer, the Wiehls have
a
CT, plus
to
a new
Dinsmore
motorboat
a
door in Vero
Stubblefield
Bartholomay. In
condo in Westport,
keep
life active. Lee
is in three book
groups and recommends Lost in
Shangri-La. Get
thatcomputer, Lee, your hand-
writing is awful.
2013.
she is about
sure
Anne Wotherspoon Ross died June 9,2013,
and was
survived by two children and a
Michigan.
Mary Congdon Van Evera says current
affairs
are
holding her interest daily and discussing them
with family and friends. “I also have an increas-
and Franny Troub
was
master’s
walls and
around NYC. (I am
30 years younger than the rest of us.) She is in
touch with Judy Moss, Carol Joseph Thomas,
requested this statement:
and
ancient stone
goes
the movies, theaters, concerts, and museums,
and dines out with friends and her daughter,
to
Jersey, but moved
Elizabeth Myerson Tableman spent some
weeks in Buxton, England, in August at
Derbyshire with its
I don’t thinkshe has aged becauseshe
her name.
has read Sotomayor’s book, plays bridge,
in Santa Monica. She had lived her life in New
blessed?” she wrote.
of
Roberts, which is surprising as it was
the first time in 69 years that I had thought of
Aronow
walking
vassar.edu/programs/reunion/.
Sarah Tamor kindly informed us of the death
of her mother-in-law, Katharine Stevens
Ward,
Sunday, April 14, 2013, at St. Johns Hospital
an
a
647
classnotes@vassar.edu
reunion. To
was
generations present.
Buxton at one
point in its history attempted
to rival Bath, Betty wrote, and the countryside
Quarterly
Raymond Avenue, Box
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
124
summer
(June 13-15), and as
of this writing, 24 members of VC 1944 have
expressed an interest in attending the 70th
as
with four
Vassar
Reunion is this
Kir,
family reunion
her husband. She also talked with Sally Henry
Lupfer —what a great correspondent she is.
A challenge: I received an
unsigned email
from “glorynita.” Instantly, I thought Gloria
exercise class twice a week, volunan
speaking English with foreign students
through the English Speaking Union, and takes
a course
at NYU on global politics. For more
exercise, she depends on her health club and
REUNION
your name,
enthusiwrote
Tompkins Barnes
astically from Providence, RI, that she is living
in an “independent living” retirement home
Eleanore
who had been in East
Eisenstein
Hampton still playing tennis although no more
tournaments.
Betty was returning to DC with
teers
with her twin sister. After
spent 20 years teaching French and English literature.
We talked about our
college years that
shadowed by World War II with most of
were
Lewisohn
Betty
goes to
Leighton is living in Detroit
getting her PhD, she
Ueland
McNeil
—Kathy
me
in the country.
Jean
Please sharewhatyou do and where
you go with
Class Notes fun to read even at 92!
to keep our
us
All of us had a chance to thank Dotty in a
conference call. She still sounds like her cheerful,
self. She told
world.
$10,000,000
from 9,800 donors!
perky
I can ascertain personally, that one
of the
highlights for today’s alumnae returning to visit
Vassar is to walk over
the new pedestrian bridge,
Walkway Over the Hudson, created from the
ruins of the old railroad bridge that we remembered back in 1943. It is a gorgeous mile-long
walk from Poughkeepsie to Highland, 200 feet
high over the river, and is called the longest and
highest “for pedestrians only bridge” in the
Eliot
Mary (Monk)
responded to my book list
request: Sonia Sotomayor’s My Beloved World
is one we all must read as well as William Least
Heat-Moon’s Blue
Highways (1980 s travels on
back roads around the U.S.). Monk spends long
at her old house at North Marshfield,
summers
MA, supervising the garden and admiring the
river—before retreating to her nearby retirement
village. What did we all do before these old lady
villages were built?
In August, Henriette deSieyes Montgomery
returned from Long Island where she shares a
home with her Los Angeles son. She talkedwith
she
Philadelphia;
won
in the movie The Great
a
part
as
an
she had
docent and board
Gatsby;
passion for art and was a
member of both the Yale University Art
and the Newport Art Museum.
Gallery
Izant
died July 1, 2013, leavGinny Root
ing three children. She graduated from Laurel
School in Cleveland. She
met
bridge party and spent the next
her husband at
two
years
a
in the
Aleutian Islands while he completed his naval
service. (That is real love because I have been
to the Aleutians and that is the worst
weather
in the world.) In Cleveland,
Ginny joined the
Junior League, the Visiting Nurse Association,
was
a Trustee of the Western Reserve Academy
and a board member of Laurel School. She traveled to China, the British Isles, Australia, Africa,
and South America.
Fuess
Hope
Phillips also
moves
around—-
upstate New York, Texas, DC, San Antonio—sort
of all in one breath in 104° weather. She tracked
Pollitt
down Mima
Kenney, who has 12 grandchildren to Hope’s 11. Hope was also hunting
for June
Jackson
Christmas’s address.
I recommend
a
page-turner: Nelson
DeMille’s Spencerville and
Aviator’s
you
must
read The
Wife.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
47
Wood
Frances
45
Pamela
Gillett
with her love of horticulture, the renovation ofthe
Wimpfeimer Nursery School, and the air-condi-
tioning of Alumnae House. Mary Lee also served
802.457.3591
303.926.3103
College,
fgillett@comcast.net
pcforcey@yahoo.com
Heritage Condos,
Unit
12D
05091
and four obituaries.
Hopefully, the dearth
of
me
out
you to help
Pat
Sokoloff
Gantz
from lectures to swim-
races
ming to meetings of the Carnegie Council for
Ethics in InternationalAffairs and other organizations. She divides her time betweenManhattan
and suburb Harrison, NY, and often sees her
of Macalester
chair of the boards of trustees
the Minneapolis Foundation, the
Minneapolis YWCA, and Planned Parenthood
as
of Minnesota and was a founder of the Women’s
Foundation of Minnesota. She also was a board
member of other organizations and active-
ly supported environmental groups that
her
four children(three in Manhattan), who include
husband had led. Mary Lee’s husband of 54
died in 2002. She is survived by
years, Wallace,
four daughters, including Sally Dayton Clement
York to
Karen Gantz Zahler ’72 and Kim Gantz Wexler
in
’73. She also fitted in an art collectors’ tour
Trustees, 1973-1977 and 2001-2013), and
of the DePaul U.
Europe. Her husband, Manny, died in 2010.
... The National Museum of Women in the Arts
of
willinspire
news
by submitting
the Vassar
Beatrice
some
YOUR
news
for the next
issue of
Quarterly.
Fleiss
Orzac
has moved from New
Chicago whereshe is proud to be playing
first violin in the New Horizons String Orchestra
music program.
community
Good for you!!!
has recognized Jeannette
from Virginia Brady Calkins
arrived after my last column reporting that she
and her husband are still living in the big house
cation: Its Greater Kansas
A newsy note
they acquired in Hamburg, NY, in 1961 when
a
they had nine children. Downsizing seems
wise idea but also
a
formidable lot of work.
They still have poultry and also (with the help of
their pediatrician daughter—a Vassar alumna—who lives next door) many sheep, a horse, and a
donkey. The eight other offspring visit occasionally and their 30 grandchildren appear at their
home Barking Waters —in Traverse
summer
City, ML (I imagine that name reflects Ginny’s
love for her standard poodles, which often
appear on her Christmas cards!) Her grandchildren include graduates of Harvard, Yale,
Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Bates, Williams, and
Brown. She is still looking for one from Vassar,
but that hasn’t happened
yet.
She says that marrying and having kids
doesn’t seem to be as popular as it was in our
day, but they are still hopeful. Meanwhile, they
enjoy living in the Buffalo area and getting regularly to concerts by their local philharmonic. The
weatheris fine. Snow in the winter is decreasing
and managed well when it comes, and summers
—
comfortable.
are
brings me to my news, which is not
me.
My 1992 red
very important except to
Saab died early in Oct. 2013 and had to be
relegated to a local yard. The worst
part of
that was
that I had to part with the bumper
That
sticker my son-in-law gave
me
OLDER WOMAN.
ago: OUTRAGEOUS
anywhere withouthaving someone
several years
I
rarely
drove
comment
on
gave
a
the
gift to
Terrell
member of the museum’s National Advisory
Board and one of its endowment counselors.
trips
five
kids
are
take
and I live
right
local senior center, which offers local
days a week. And I must add that my
delighted. At least, they didn’t have to
my keys away from me!
We have lost four classmates since my
Parker
Carver
last report, including Cecile
of
Portland, ME, who actually graduated from
Barnard in 1946 after transferring from Vassar.
She died Sept. 26, 2009. Patricia
Hopkinson
Dunham
formerly of New Canaan, CT, died
in
May 6, 2012. Nancy Hooe
Willis
Holmes
of Needham, MA, and Squirrel
Island, ME, died Aug. 1, 2013. Dorothy
Matheis
Thornhill
died in Boston,
MA, Sept.
24,2013, after a long illness, but she also lived
in Charlottesville, VA, Edgartown, MA, and
Vero Beach, FL.
Southbury
WINTER
2014
on
nine
’O3
and Winston Clement ’O9.
Christine
47
132
V.
Tall
Heritage
Point
Morgantown,
WV
26505
after World War 11. I read the book WAPSSAW:
in
years of living
Memoirs
of an
American Teacher in Poland
with great interest; Anne vividly described the
city and the friendly Poles with their desire
304.594.8444
dctail@hotmail.com
Mary
Germany and continues to sing.
Clarke
and husband,
disabilities, are still maintaining their
Louise
Hastings
despite some
ruined
home of 50 years
for knowledge, but also her problems as Soviet
influence grew and hostility toward Americans
Canal in Forte
increased. The book is available from Amazon.
With sadness I report the deaths of six classmates.
The class sends sympathy to the survivors of all
Bierce
of them. Barbara
Coley of Hinsdale, IL,
died on Feb. 2, 2013. She is survived by three
children and her sister, Carol Bierce Bates ’53.
Martha
Stolz
of Boise, ID, died
(Marty) Roderick
on
April 3,2013. Among
many other
civic activi-
ties, Marty volunteeredfor the Assistance League
of Boise and the Ronald McDonald House. She
is survived
her
husband, Bob, three sons,
four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
of Weston, MA, died
Lucy (Polly) Gallup Carter
on
April 13, 2013. Polly served on the board
by
of the Massachsetts 4-H Foundation
of trustees
and the Boston Poultry Foundation. She and
her husband developed Woodleigh Farms with
diversified livestock and also raised basset hounds
Marian
Chambers
of Fort Myers,
(Skibs) Teetor
FL, died on May 14, 2013. In Fort Myers she
donated many hours to Good Wheels and
Hope Hospice. She also was president of the
our
grandchildren, including Katherine Sturgis
that did not make it
The following is news
Adams
last column. Margaret Smith
into our
classmate Elizabeth
our
that
Kingdonreports
Gruenwald has become a German citizen after
call
provide transportation
member of the Vassar Board of
a
... Eleanor
(Vandy) Vandewater
Leonard, “still
enjoying living in McCall, ID, by myself,” adds
that visits to and from her children are happy
each year. . . . Laura Cooley ’B3 edited
events
Waterman
the book her mother, the late Anne
Cooley, almost finished about her experiences
teaching English literature in Warsaw right
for competition. Polly’s husband, Frank, died
before her. She is survived by four sons, five
grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
to
(herself
Committee
in honor of Jeannette,
museum
’7l
Nichols’s dedi-
City Area
it, but it had adhered to my bumper for so long
that I couldn’t even
scrape it off with a knife!
Fortunately, I have many friends who were on
behind
48
Forcey
Hecla
1331
Drive, #306
Louisville, CO 80027
56
Woodstock, VT
I think I have reached the nadir of my columns
items other than my
this time with only two news
own,
46
Cottier
has had
a
with 10 in attendance: Edith
Edith
Scott
Carol
Ohmer
V.
Martin
de
Theodora
a
charter member of the President’s
has benefited from her
2001. In
addition, Vassar
generosity in connection
Edson,
Margitay,
Helen
Minton
Farley,
Simon
Ross
Greenbaum, Anne
Sheppard, and Suzanne
Sayre McFarlane.
Gibby Edson lives in a retirement community in
Annapolis, MD, continues to paint in oils, and
is taking sculpture lessons at a local community
college. Scotty sounded as if she was flying high
from a great summer
teaching needlework on
Nantucket and having one of her pieces auctioned
for a “tremendous” sum of money. Evey reported on three grandchildren, one with a landscape
architecture
Afghanistan
degree,
looking
for
a
another just back from
about to take a PhD in internation-
misses her traveling
as
McLane
Bouriez, Evelyn Brand
Boxer,
Collins, Mary Sharp Cronson, V.
gave many years of service to Vassar as a member
of the
of Trustees, 1979-1981 and 1993-
1997, and
Culleton
very
al relations and
Advisory Council from
IN. Mary Anna
busy time of service to
the retirement community in which she lives. To
slow down, she is taking a six-week trip to Europe
with her family, which will include three weeks
and
by herself in Paris! Margaret Colt Domini
Victoria
Hurd
Shurtleff reported that they had
a beautiful trip on
the Elbe River just before it
was
brutally flooded.
The NYC Junior League again hosted the
1947 annualOctober luncheon, a great success
Colwell
Naples, FL, Vassar Club. Skibs’s marriage
to
Monty Chambers ended in divorce. She
is survived by three daughters, one
six
son,
grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
of Sedona, AZ, died
Sally Thompson Strait
on
Aug. 5, 2013. She is survived by a son.
Mary Lee Lowe
Dayton of Wayzata, MN, died
on Aug. 21,2013. Community leader,
philanthropist, and supporter of women’s issues, Mary Lee
Boa/d
the banks of the old Erie
on
Wayne,
third, Vassar granddaughter,
a
job as
a
that she works at the
law librarian. Mary
Guggenheim
as
wrote
the producer
of works in progress and founded the performing
arts programs in the museum.
Teddy is still enjoying the arts scene near her apartment. Carol’s
granddaughter
is
enjoying her sophomore year
at Vassar
with excellent teachers and a campus
full of spirit. V.V is living a quiet life in the city,
ones
up
days but is grateful for the
she had. The spirit of the occasion so revved
Sue that she
after 38
years.
able to tell her
was
Kissinger, that she
was
boss, Henry
retiring (for the fifth time)
report the death of five classdied in May 2013.
Sterrett Hornor
Sadly, we have to
Edith
mates.
she had worked
leather bindings. She spent more
a repairer of
than 34 years
doing volunteer training for the New York Junior
League. Nancy Cohen Sawyer died in Maine in
July 2013 surrounded by her family. Shereceived
a master’s in education from Bank Street and
Professionally,
worked
as
her PhD in education at Columbia.
on
She taught school for many years, andwhenshe
moved to Maine became director of special education for Cumberland
County. After retiring,
became a real
broker much loved by her
estate
clients and became active in civic
she
organizations
in the local community. Betty Wagner Zeni
died
in June 2013. She retired from Marshall Field &
in
Company
Chicago
as
manager
in the insur-
Aegis retirement community in Carlsbad, CA,
where “we have great food, a caring staff, beautiful gardens, and plenty of activities.” Gretchen
still thinks of herself as “the island girl from
Hawaii.” If it’s the same
retirement community
in Carlsbad, I hope Jane
McKee
Ingram, whose
husband, Jack, died in 2012, has caught up with
Gretchen. After her husband, Ralph, died a year
moved from her
Roberts
ago, Betty Sampson
Wellington, EL, house
Cherry Hill, NJ, to be
her two
near
daughters and son, Jimmy, who
is with NBC Sports. “Maybe you’ve caught a
glimpse of him over theyears.” Betty Ann (Glas)
to
has moved from Cincinnati where she had
Wolf
spent her whole life to a retirement community
three of her five daughters.
in Seattle to be near
Doris
Garabedian
has moved into The
Carlson
and property tax field. In the 1960 s and
19705, she was active in the local Republican
clubs and was
an
alternate delegate to the 1968
National Convention. She loved to travel with
Commons in Lincoln,
her husband and made all five continents. Mary
of 50 years to the house next door where her
children grew up. She plays in string quartets
ance
Hemphill died in Sept. 2013. She was
Gather
predeceased by
her two
children, Emily Jane
(VC ’74) and Robert. After Vassar, she received
a master’s in psychology. After her marriage to
Robert J. Hemphill in 1949, she became active in
volunteer activities in Bath Township and became
president of the Summit County Medical Society
Williams
also passed
Auxiliary. Mary Butler
away in Sept. 2013 at Heaton Woods in Vermont
with her family by her side. She was
predeceased
by her husband, Dr. M. Henry Williams. Together
the parents of five children. After 50
they were
years of an active life in Scarsdale, NY, she moved
in 2005 to be near
her oldest son and family. We
MA,
an
living community. She has
of her art
some
Frannie
at
Foote
a
independent
website
senior
displaying
www.doriscarlsonart.com.
Breer
parted from her home
15 years later when the Buttenheims settled in
North Tarrytown, NY. With four daughters to
care
for, she took two years to complete senior
in 1963. Phyllis Hayter
lives 26 miles from Aspen, CO, and
She mentions
eagerly awaits the ski season.
casually that she’s had back fusion surgery and
year and
graduated
Townsend
a
partial knee replacement. Busy with Boston
politics,
Agnes
her
Peter
son,
to the marathon bombing and
prominent and excellent spokesman on
Shmidheiser
TV.” I question Carol
Kilbourn’s
definition of “things were
calming down after a
with children, grands, and greats”
busy summer
when she goes
to say “Eve canned andfrozen
on
much from the garden, and cooked and picked
lots of crabs, pulled my crab pots and rowboat
of the water
for the winter, and still have
out
mow, leaves to gather, and holidays
Moot
Buerger is
prepare for.” Hmm. Mary
active in Hillsdale, MI, with politics, church, and
grass to
to
in Florence, is
stop
Joan
Javits
Zeeman, who—-
issues. On
a
recent
Sue was
visit to
Poughkeepsie
to
see
a
a
first-rate liberal arts
senior research associate
college.
at
Eve
Villa I Tati
preparing an exhibition of Italian
household pottery from 1650 to the present.
Their children gave a party to celebrate
Joe and
Margaret (Margie) Capers Proctor’s 62 years of
“we had a mighty fine
marriage. Says Margie,
time.” Dana
Linn
Williams
writes, “Still alive
and kicking—though thanks to 40 years of
the kicking is slowed.” Dana’s husband,
adult children have died, but she has
seven
grands, two great-grands, and
and two
three
a
MS,
Bill,
sons,
step great-grand.
Laura
Eyck Byers and
Ten
her son,
condolences to their families.
in the
looking forward to
churchfunctions where her
Vassar roommates, Nancy Collins
Rubino, Mary
Nunn
Garbus
Burnam
Morrow, and Marcia
our
Katharine
48
49
college. Elizabeth
(Liz) Green
Richey is
“hanging in there,” plays violin in a local orchestra, organizes bridge for friends, and attends
Stanley-Brown
Abbott
3 Tucks
Point
Road
Manchester, MA
01944
978.526.4436
glasshead@comcast.net
65TH
REUNION
grand round of applause
A
Van
Pelt
Wells,
since 2009.
and thanks to
Ellen
wonderful news
our
And, thank you,
postcards.
gatherer
Classmates, for so
and
many emails
Gloria
Gerst
Steinberg
gated adultcommunity.
is
figuring
how
out
to
Her
enjoys her Florida
challenge right now
manage
(“awaiting help from
a
computer
new
people”).
younger
Silverman d'Adolf and husband Stuart
in Kendal
Hudson where Lila
on
Lila
are
says she’s
the only pianist who plays by
ear.
She plays
“golden oldies” for the dementia patients,
which they recognize “even when they can’t
remember why they’re there.” Also at Kendal
on
Hudson is
Doris
(Topsy)
Moses
Preus, who
is beautiful and I’ve made
many
wonderful friends.” Another Kendal retirement
notes, “The
community,
area
in Kennett
Square, PA,
is home for
Charlotte Wright Osgood. Cornelia (Connie)
Hassan Hill
and
was
Williamson
going to
is also in Kennett
happily surprised
Kinahan
Square Kendal
to find classmate Alice
there. “Moving here and
Vassar have been two
see
the many changes
Borsook,
admire their achievements and will miss them. We
send
amazed to
at
in the thick
“a
was
Bennington, VT, Ellen Kingsbury Viereck
keeps
their farm going and hopes to get back to paintand plays.
ing and attending evening concerts
can
was
of the response
being close to
Nothing
writes that
Burke
is chief of trauma
Boston Medical Center and
and last April had a smallshow of her paintings.
With her husband, Philip, in a Veteran’s Home in
recovering from a serious stroke, a broken arm
(trying to pull up two-foot long fennel roots!)
and then contracting a mycin-resistant staph
infection—produced a magical musical in NYC
called Timmy the Great. Susan
Ervin-Tripp is
pondering a history book on women’s rights
Goldman
(VC ’7B),
of my better deci-
sions in my lifetime.” After 53
years, Gretchen
Nott
Gould
has moved from her home to the
nephew is the pastor.
bad
With husband Louis recovered from two
falls, Ann Hornor Cutter says she is “feeling very
lucky” because all their children and grandchildren are fine, as is she. Anne
(Simmie) Simmons
Finley’s husband, John, took a bad fall, was
rushed to the ER where he was
diagnosed
with a heart problem, received a pacemaker,
and is doing well. June
Ross
Marks
is “staying ahead of the calendar year” with a South
American cruise, a river trip on the Danube, and
Elderhostel bridge trip to Vermont. She has
an
two
trips planned for 2014, still plays tennis,
walks, plays bridge, exercises, does water aerobics, and takes care of her bichon frise, Kelly.
Marshall
teaches ensembles
Woodbridge Barron
for adults, at the Neighborhood Music School in
New Haven and leads the
band
English country dance
alternate Fridays. Marshall is a great-
on
grandmother three times. Carol Brown Hartland
happily, “Three great-grandchildren in
March (2013) and we already had five.” She
takes care of her husbandwho has Alzheimer’s,
Cammack
Brewster
a “rough road.” Anne
and
her husband are the great-grandparents of 12!
They say “there’s a dinner party every night”
in their retirement community, Beverwyck in
Slingerlands, NY. I hate to disappoint you, Mary
Wheat
are
both active in North Canaan,
hopes
(Midge) Apt Loeffler
to
CT,
and
Reunion next
year. Marjorie
to convince her three
attend Reunion in June. Thirty years ago,
guardian of a 14-year old
Marcia became the
Ethiopian boy
who became
breaking ground for
a
a
surgeon and is
hospital in Addis Ababa
he’s
naming the Marcia Burnam Surgical Center.
pride and joy and more
than a few tears,” Marciasays. In spite of a bad
knee and arthritis, Anne (Hutch) Hutchison
is
co-chairing our 65th reunion next June 13-15
Roberts.
with Eleanor
(Ellie) Little
Speaking of
(Bibs) Muhs
Reunion, our co-presidents, Barbara
Walker
and Ginny Lewisohn
Kahn, hope for a
“I will be there with
and say, “If you haven’t been
splendid turnout
nabbed by Ellie or Hutch and there is a job
email them directly.” It’s our energy,
you crave,
enthusiasm, and how well we cope with life
that makes 1948-49 such a dynamic class. See
in June!
you
writes
Elizabeth
Robertson
“Am I the first
Buttenheim, who asks:
great-grandmother in the class?”
However, Mary Elizabeth may be the only classwho transferred as a junior from Goucher
mate
College
moved
in
to
1946, left Vassar to marry Edgar,
Chicago, and reapplied to Vassar
50
Molly Izant
439
White
North Main Street
Hudson, OH
44236-2247
330.653.5881
hudsonmoll@yahoo.com
Just hung
up from
a
short and pleasant talk with
in Hanover, NH, at
Betsy Hopkins Colt, now
a wonderful retirement home. She and husband
David
content
seem
there, she with her lovely
piano and he doing lots of hiking. Dartmouth
is right there where they can go for music and
lectures. Lots of good friends now. Betsy has been
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
49
for piano entertainment and accomSounds
good to me who lives alone
panying.
and must
think of my own
entertainment, a
dog, Poncho, and a fat Siamese cat, Arthur. The
latter brings me presents too often of chipmunks
called on
mice
or
so
...
I had
proud.
nice chat with Louise
Bryans
daughter added an addithe house they used to live in when the
a
Fallon
in Lexington, KY, whose
tion to
children
growing up. Louise has a springdoes needlepoint for bookmarks
isn’t reading.
were
spaniel and
er
when she
(Madeleine) Conley who
Kim
born in
was
Pasadena, CA, lives in Palm Desert, CA. She
does legislative work on the Internet. Her relatives
in
far away in London. At Vassar, she
are
was
Cushing.
Barbara
Robinson
Allen
wrote
a
note
from
beautiful Michigan. “My life rolls on. I’m still
busy at two archives now, singing with our Jewish
choir, growing family, two weddings of grandchil-
Our
to Amy Bartram ’BB, who
let us know that her mother, Jeannette
Norton
Bartram, of Bloomfield, CT, died July 24,
2013. Jeannette was a lifelong volunteer for orga-
sympathy
to
wrote
nizations that includedAvery Heights, her
church,
and the Vassar Club. An avid reader and gardener, she enjoyed hiking and travels throughout
the world with her husband. A third-generation
Vassar graduate (after her mother and grand-
mother), she is survived by her husbandof 60
their children,
Carey Bartram
years, Maynard;
Meltzer ’77 (husband Harland Meltzer ’77), Peter
Bartram, Sarah Noyes (Jon), and Amy; andfour
grandchildren, including Amory Meltzer ’O9. She
was
a math major, a member of the Swupper Club
(water ballet), and a resident of Josselyn, where
she honed her ruthless card-playing skills. Amy
writes: “Last year, Mom showed me a scrapbook
from her VC years, including pages of souvenirs
and photos from weekend jauntsup and down
the East Coast. It sure
looked like fun!”
dren coming up. Loving the hi-definition opera
from the Met.”
that in August
Mary French
Conway wrote
she and Bill visited their son Bill at his vacation
home in Crested Butte, CO, a charming old
visited
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, for the
Shaw Festival. We saw three plays and one musical. Bill was
honored by being named the local
recipient of the 2013 Mayo Man of the Year
(County Mayo, Ireland).”
Mary Bell has been both a painter and a
writer, and currently she is working on a play
about her experience as a book reviewer for the
bookshop service started by Virginia Kirkus T 6
in Manhattan in 1933. “I am partial to comedy
and addicted to writers like Woody Allen and
Shakespeare. In 1970,1 met Robert Weiner, MD,
married for 38 years. Lucky for
and we were
we
me,
he
was
interested in alternative medicine.
We followed
good health practices and had a
really great time. He’d been married before, so I
inherited some
fine stepchildren and grandchildren. I like living in Hawaii, where I was
born.
Only regret is it’s too far from centers of world
art/writing activity and from wonderful friends
made in and after years at Vassar. Footnote:
Loved the movie about Julia Child with Meryl
Streep
’7l and Frannie
Rombauer!” Mary notes
ofthedemons.com
Sternhagen
’sl
as
Irma
that she has a website:
Carpenter died Sept. 17,
Wynnewood, PA. She was
preceded in death by her husband, Darrell
(Dee) W. Carpenter, who died in April 2012.
Eunice
2013,
Eunice
Pass
at
home in
graduated
with honors from Vassar.
She and Dee shared a rich life creating
a loving
family, building businesses, and serving others.
Among her many service roles, she was an active
member of the Vassar Club of Syracuse.
Shirley Shearouse Bergen died on Sept. 1,
2013. She studied at Vassar for two years before
where she
transferring to the U. of
Georgia
graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1950. She
was
predeceased by her husband, Joe, to whom
she had been happily married for 55 years. An
avid bridge player and
community volunteer, she
is survived by her childrenand grandchildren.
50
WINTER
201
4
new
was
dead or alive. When tech-sawy Nancy Ames
English whipped out her SmartPhone to find out,
some
of us were embarrassed by the StupidPhones
cowering in our purses. There was a whiffle of
excitement when Ms. English’s granddaughter
phoned her from high in the sky over Spain. Our
generation finds that stuff amazing.
We were
fascinated to learn that Anne
Northrop Ott (Providence, RI) had donated her
legs
Yale, was
wondering
how
they were doing
personal
anatomy, but two rare, hand-carved 18th-century
Connecticut Valley highboy legs, part of her
late husband’s collection, and now
used for
study of American Decorative Arts in Yale’s art
history department.
to
and went
to
over
visit them. Not her
51
looks 90, marvels
973.543.7361
Barbara
Heinz
Kaplan (North
Dartmouth, MA) about her husband, Sidney, who
reached that milestone in August with a family
celebration followed by a restaurant
bash for
marianhmundy@gmail.com
60. And this after he’dannounced NO PARTY.
Heath
13 Pembroke
Mundy-Hooper
Drive
Mendham, NJ
mining town nestled in the mountains.
“We had an opportunity to do some
hiking in
preparation for our September trip to Provence
hiked with a back-roads company in
the Luberon Valley. Our youngest daughter and
her husband were
part of the group. In October,
resident,
there with a
was
NONAGENARIAN CUTIE: No way he
Marian
Victorian
where we
Anne Bingham Pierson,
gentleman friend.
I don’t want
to say we heldverbal autopsies,
but there was much mealtime chat about body
parts andwhat’s being done to them, plus a spirited discussion of whetherfolk
singer Pete Seeger
Connecticut
07945
Sidney
SURPRISE REUNION: Summer, 2013. Georgia
Potter
Gosnell
is
invitedto lunchwith some
Greek friends, one of
whom says: My mother went to Vassar. So did my
the friend’s
says
mother is
other than classmate Lena
none
Sylvia.
Turns out
mother-in-law,
(Helen)
retreat
Anninos, who has a summer
the island of Skiathos. Georgia and Lena
Sikiarides
on
hadn’tseen
they were dormmates
hosting Lena and
her daughter on the boat, Georgia reports Lena,
who went for a swim, is slim, petite, elegant, and
looks great in her classy swimwear. No way was
I going to put on a bathing suit, asserts
Georgia,
who is lovely but not petite. Lena, a widow, lives
in London, summers
on
Skiathos, has nine grandchildren and a daughter in Connecticut.
Speaking of reunions, I know you’re panting to hear about our fun mini mini Sept. 24-26
small but mighty
in New Haven, CT. It was
(20 souls) and organized by the redoubtable
McKee
Ms. Jean
herself, with help from local
classmates Betty Greenwood
Metcalf
and
Bingham Pierson.
Headquartered at the
Omni Hotel in scenic downtown New Haven,
Anne
mere
assassination, Nov. 2013, the NY Times printed
a letter by Joan
Ferguson (Fergie) Ellis (Atlantic
Highlands, NJ), on the true legacy of JFK: the fact
thathe defused the Cubanmissile crisis by using
standing up to the hawks and bargain-
restraint in
ing for
steps
(shaky
and
otherwise) from the
Yale campus. In addition to our usual worldclass gabbing, we enjoyed excursions into the
beautiful countryside, tours
of Mark Twain’s
and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s homes, a visit to
own
historic hacienda in Cheshire, jolly
dinners in interesting local restaurants, and a
McKee’s
of the newly expanded/
University Art Gallery, led by
assistant curator
John Stewart Gordon ’OO.
of us, anyway) to
What a surprise (to some
the James M. Duffy print room,
come
across
namedfor none other than the genial Jim Duffy,
special private
tour
remodeled Yale
time.
UPDATES: A hero in
Udell
Lowenstein
an
my
book,
Helen
active board member
distressed that there are more
homeless people
than they can help, 50,000 in shelters, 20,000
of them children. Helen also takes classes at
The New School. Hardcore baseball fan Helen
Swan Merrill (Scarborough, ME) had a second
knee
operation and that same
night watched
hoped to
be playing golf in Charleston, SC, in February.
B. A. Fribley Hand
(Darien, CT ) who enjoyed
the New Havenmini, writes that after a lifetime
of happy winter skiing, she’s now
happy to be
spending the winter in Vero Beach, EL, chauffeured around by her daughter.
the Red Sox win the World Series! She
OUR SYMPATHY: To Joan
Clark Gunn
(Sacramento, CA) and her family. Joan’s
husband, Howard, died in Oct. 2013 of lung
a noted orchid expert
Howard was
who traveled and lectured worldwide, often
cancer.
accompanied by Joan. We also lost three classmates.
Longtime Tucson, AZ, resident Louise
(Wooly) Mac Nair
Anthony died Oct. 28, 2013,
of cancer.
Remembered as a skilled
painter,
editor, hostess, chef, and world traveler, she
outlived her professor husband and a son but
is survived by two
daughters and four grandchildren. The
artist, gallery
who gave
cameo
appearance. Luncheon with the New
Haven Vassar Club featured the
died
ever-gracious
and forward-looking President Cappy Hill, and
medical glamour girl and longtime
yes, our
is
of NYC’s Coalition for the Homeless. She’s
husband of Bobby Gibbins Duffy, who made
a
Many of the younger classes don’t
know that Jackie was a member of the Class of
1951. (Fergie didn’t say that part.)
each other since
in Lathrop 62 years ago!! After
written up in the local paper for his
go, Sidney!
LEGACY: On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s
sleeping around the Greek
Isles on Timoneer, her beautiful ketch. Sylvia,
her daughter-in-law, who’s along for the ride, is
was
good-natured generosity. Way to
an
spirited
Pat
O'Brien
and Outsider
important collection
owner
Parsons,
art
expert
Vassar,
Bedford,
to
suddenly Nov. 30, 2013, in
NY, of an embolism. VC 1951 was
represented at her service. Harry and
well
Genie
Aiguier Havemeyer, Keren Ellington Widmann,
Shirley McKeever Tanner, Stu and Judy
Repp, and Joan Ferguson (Fergie)
all there. And just before
Ellis were
my VQ
deadline, I learned Joan
digger) Reeves
Andrews
died suddenly
Golden
in Brooklyn, NY, writes
Mary Brown
about her very full life that includes many women
friends and a 75-year-old male partner, reflecting
that hermother would never
have condonedsuch
a thing or, for that matter, ever
thought of living
in Brooklyn. Times change, don’t they?
at her home in Austin,
Sept. 12, 2013.
And I guess by now
everyone knows Pete
Seeger died on Jan. 27, 2014, at the age of 94.
Janet
Bell Garber in Playa del
Rey, CA, keeps
busy going to the theater, reading SCIENCE,
He had
great connections to
and
Davies
TX,
on
and
so
do
the Hudson River
we.
keeping in touch
with her VC roommate,
Lillian
Christie McDermott
in Seattle. Also from
California and keeping in touch are:
Betty Hood
(Hoodie) Pigford, Virginia (Ginger) Johnson,
Beatrice
(Maggie)
b,meyerson2@gmail.com
get
for
Hilary Whittaker
949.770.4614
reopened
falling
are
to resume
inDC. The governmenthas
gridlock. Our class is busy.
Downes Baskin writes from
Riker
Peggy
Carmel, CA, that she has just finished her memoir,
My Way and it has been accepted as a core reader
at the college in
in a course
Monterey. Last year,
she traveled to Paris, Vancouver, Yosemite, and
other places. Peggy writes she is “putting several dozen girls through college who show real
commitment to political life.”
Suzanne Rohrbach
Massie’s new
book,
released in late 2013, is called Trust but Verify:
Reagan, Russia and me. Suzanne’s previous
book is hand of the Firebird, published in 1980.
Joan
Lewis
Jewett, helped by Virginia (Ginny)
Gaillard
Chew, is planning a book party for
Suzanne in
Virginia.
Bunker
continues
A
new
write books
to
one
is due out
in
Stallworth
writes of
planned trip
to
a
on
in Vermont
horseback riding.
spring
visit to
2014. Carolyn
Canada and
a
South America.
As I write this in October,
my co-correspondent Hilary Whittaker is off on an extended cruise
of Asia
to the Pacific Islands and the east coast
with stops in Sumatra, Bali, and Australia. Wow!
Sylvia Wardenburg Crouter sends word
from her Box Hanging Three Ranch, which
breeds Tennessee Walking Horses in Wyoming.
on
During winter 2012-2013, she gave a course
the Gospel of Saint John and comments, “Very
illuminating, History! Religion! Spirituality!”
Nancy
Schutt
Cantwell
in Minnesota is
and studying writing in
concerts
called “Stories of Survival.”
attending
course
a
Allelu
Beal
in Concord, MA,
Kurten, now
has given lectures on puppetry at U. Conn and
at her retirement community.
Virginia (Diddie) Gibney Bacon left Toronto
enjoy a birthday trip to New Orleans with her
son, as well as Thanksgiving 2012 with another
to
son
in Houston. A third son
Adelaide
(Addie) Gubins
the 50-year mark
as
continues to work
as
judge and as a
Congregation
Katherine
a
San Francisco every few months
Anna
(Sandy)
Ruth
is
Dutton
and support.
Sandin
who has moved
Masters
moves
to
Michigan. Julia
enjoying lots of outdoor activities, but
Poughkeepsie and
the chance
to
attend
misses
events
at Vassar.
Josephine (Dodie)
Hildreth
Detmerin Maine
is
serving on several boards, swimming, keeping
up with politics, and especially, laughing whenever
possible—good idea, Dodie.
Carol
Childe
Cossum plans to fully retire
from her psychology practice by the end of 2013.
She says her brain is programmed to
go at a faster
speed than her body can now manage. She and
Bob are both fine and plan to spend more
time
“smelling theroses.”
has a new
Dim
Audrey Barnum
hip,
but
regrets that getting it caused her to miss
Reunion. She is
Lois
looking forward
Lefkowich Butler
to
our
has taken over
65th.
the job
of class fund chair. As she left for Portugal in
Oct. 2013, she sent a plea for volunteers to write
thank-you notes.
Sadly, we have lost another classmate. Carol
Morrison
Joy Heckman
passed away on Sept. 6,
2013. She had Alzheimer’s disease. Carol married
Morrison in 1952. After
George
George’s retire-
from the army, Carol earned an MA in
library science in 1977. She became a reference
librarian in the Du
Page (IE) Library System,
ment
from which she retired in 1996. In addition to
her husband, Carol is survived by her three children and their families.
We
in the
regret that due to an editing error
last issue, classmates Ginny Gaillard Chew,
Jean
Bronson
Mahoney, and Courtney Garland
Iglehart were identified as in the class of ’5l. We
won’t allow their exodus so summarily!
Hilary will
write the next
column, for the
March 1 deadline. Keep writing or emailing either
both of us. Your news
is always interesting.
or
Happy
2014!8ea
lives in Toronto.
Edelson
has hit
federal employee. She
administrative appeals
pianist for theUniversalist
in Bethesda, MD.
an
53
Barbara
(Bobby)
Lamb
Johnson
49
Wilton Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
bljohnson24@gmail.com
concert
(Kay) Freston ’s H. G. Fairfield
Arts Center for the Environment supports the
arts in Putnam and Duchess Counties by provid-
Connie
space for practice and performances. During
the summer
of 2013, the center’s events included
projects
ing
Native American
cyclists, and a
Gault
together in
lunch, news,
Smith
,
Virginia (Gincy) Self
McAndrew, and Margaret
who bridge the miles to
Evans
from Connecticut to Chevy Chase, MD, for the
winter. She plans to spend Christmas in England
with her daughter. Anna Ruth talkedwith Julia
hilaryindc@aol.com
The leaves
Robinson
1 I
Sally
202.363.9166
I
52
Berle Meyerson
singers, military veteran
Woman Fest.
motor-
Dettmer
reported that she is now well
settled in Delaware and has taken up three new
in addition to
mental games that she
Lumosity, a website of
does daily. She is into her
fourth session of botanical watercolor lessons
at
Longwood Gardens,
and she also fosters
dogs for the
senior
Wilmington.
Connie’s bucket list includes a secret
Dog
Haven and
Hospice
of
desire to participate in the Senior Olympics, and
she has started archery lessons.
Athena
(Tina) Vavuras
Lord
that
wrote
Beverley Junor-Levy stopped briefly to see
her in NYC before going on to Toronto for
a
family wedding.
with
before Phyllis left
on
up
news
Bev
also able
was
Phyllis
roommate
on
a
to
A.
catch
Larkin
visit in Cincinnati with
and her husband,
SchlusselbergSamuels
Herschel. Tina flew out from Albany to join them
for a few days.
Edith
de
Vezeronc
Cynthia Wright Lasserre
emailed to say she is in “apparently fine fettle,”
still taking care of two homes, one in Paris and
the other in Saint-Laurent-des-Arbresin southern
France. She added: “How
lucky I
am,
no
pains,
few aches, sleep well, and eat too much. I
grateful to have gotten so much mileage out
myself and still feel so well.
a
am
of
”
Priscilla
with
sent
a note
Gaynor Farnham
her class dues to tell us that she had recently
retired from her 20-year job as executive direc-
County, MN, Historical Society.
publishing books and a
quarterly as well as managing an historic site
and preserving the society’s collections.
museum
She is now
enjoying a full night’s sleep and time
to work in her vegetable garden and her yard.
Sadly, the class has lost three more
Riedel
members. Angela Bachman
died June 1,
2013, at home in Boulder, CO. Angela studied
history at Vassar and later received a master’s
degree in education from George Mason U. in
Virginia where she and her husband, Richard,
originally settled. Angela taught kindergarten,
elementary school, alternative high school,
tor
of Ramsey
Her work included
and adult education. She started
in
a
program
Virginia County jail helping inmates
learn to read or prepare for their high school
equivalency test. She also brought volunteer
teachers into public libraries to tutor
students.
a book with her husband about
Angela wrote
a
his years as a staff member in the U.S. Senate.
Predeceased by her husband, she is survived
by two daughters, six grandchildren, and two
great-grandchildren.
died June 1,2013,
Judy Campbell Bashore
born and raised
in Washington, DC. Judy was
in Billings, MT, where she graduated first in
her high school class. She met her husband,
Boyd Truman Bashore, a graduate of West
Point, while she was at Vassar. After they
married and she became a career
military officer’s wife, they were
posted to Germany, the
Philippines, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania before
settling in Virginia. She is survived by three
and two
sons
daughters.
Jane
Hill
Clarkson
died July 2, 2013, of
lymphoma at a hospice in Winston-Salem,
NC, where she lived in a retirement community for the past three years. Jane was born
in St. Louis, MO, and lived there most
of
her life. After getting her BA in economics at
Vassar, she went on to receive an MA in art at
Washington U. She was a talented artist who
worked primarily in copper, using an acetylene torch to create
fountains, garden lights,
and wall
hangings.
She excelled in tennis and
in track and field events
and
medals in the 1987 Senior
also
an
won
seven
Olympics. She
gold
was
active member in the Sweet Adelines
barbershop
group in St. Louis. Jane is survived
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
51
a sister and a brother, her former husband,
and their two
daughters and a son. She is also
survived by nine grandchildren.
The death of Judith
(Judy) Mitchell Noyes
on
June 21, 2013, was briefly mentioned in
by
the most recent
VQ. Judy married Richard H.
Noyes in Oct. 1953, in Tokyo, Japan. Together
co-founders and co-owners
of The
they were
Chinook Bookshop in Colorado Springs from
elected member of
1959 to 2004. Judy was
an
the Colorado Springs City Council and president
of the board of directors of the Colorado Springs
Symphony and the Colorado Springs School. In
addition to her husband, she is survived by two
daughters, a son, and eight grandchildren.
The class extends sincere sympathy to the
families of each of these honored classmates.
Norma
54
351
41st
Paterson, NJ
60TH
REUNION
Street
visit
us.
wonderful place with
a
You’ll love it.”
has crossed, as
Marge Benjamin Warren
she says, longitudes, moving in June from her
much-loved DC to Sausalito Village in California.
“I’m delightedly here,” she says. ”It surpasses my
wildest dreams.” She has rented a charming arts
and crafts
bungalow around the corner
view of Richardson
other wrinklies,
as
from a
welcomed by
Bay. She was
the Brits call
us.
“My biggest
transform my East Coast
pants, tees, and sweaters
undertaking was
city wardrobe to
to
—
Carol Barshad
Milholland
West
Shriver
Pomegranate
Palos
Road
Verdes, CA 90275
My redoubtable co-writer of
1954 news,
Jean
Shriver, put out a call recently
on
Facebook, asking friends with Kindles to
download—for free—her novel, The Einstein
Milholland
Solution. The response was
electric, or should
one
say electronic. “You don’t even have to read
it,” she told them, “just download it.” Number
the listings of young adult novels, the
a terrific read, in any form. In paper-
the book carries photographs of the author
Carla
Linscheid
from their
boyfriend,
And thank you to thereunion committee thatis
creating a wonderful event for us. Since arrangesomewhat fluid at this point (I am
are
writing in December), please send me any and all
suggestions and I will forward them to Reunion
Chair Becky Bemis
Jasperson. Becky outlined
many of the steps already taken in the letter to
the class, so you may want to reply directly to her.
ments
Sabra
55
3216
Upjohn
Wake
sbrpjhn@gmail.com
whose feelings of 60
years ago have revived. He’s part of the whirling.
She’s busy trying to sell her beloved Truro home,
Great to hear from so many of you! Thanks! We
but having a great time anyway. Says Carol, “See
you all at Reunion.”
DiDi
Malafronte
Lawless, who will be in
can
charge of the reunion box lunch and parade,
to Gragnano, Italy, for a month
planned to return
with her husband, Dick. Two weeks
prior to
take off, she found she was
ill with a form of
COPD and would need
the plane. She
oxygen for
DiDi was
a
made it, using a small concentrator.
nonsmoker but scoliosis and teenage bronchitis
restricts her
lung capacity. Who knew? Staying
Italy with cousins, they had a room with a
includecontact
cannot
information here, but you
send a letter addressed to any classmate do
Office of Alumnae/i Affairs and Development
(OAAD), Vassar College, Box 14,124 Raymond
Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604. And please
send a letter to me any time, with news
to go into
the next
Quarterly.
Carol
Howe
birthday in Florida for a week over
Thanksgiving last year with all her children,
their spouses, and their children. Joe and
Smith
Franklin
have moved to a condo
“on the top of the hill above the Iwo Jima
Connie
Joan
Crosby Tibbetts tells us her senior
activism consists of
signing petitions for
arthritis and she can
John and Gretchen
based
on
her own
life. Not so, says the author.
True, Albert Einstein was her neighbor, and she
and her family enjoyed watching the mathematician’s comings and goings. The rest is fiction.
The Kindle selection cheeredJean, who needed
cheering because she
recuperating from
a broken shoulder. A true
Californian, who
pursues
sports along with her husband, Charlie,
and nearby children, Jean, who has trekked in
Nepal and other places, is made of stern stuff.
was
Gerber
is also recu(Nancy) Ashhurst
perating after several months in a hospital and
She is at home now and swimming
center.
a care
Anna
in
pool.
A blood clot in her
right arm required
on
a
emergency surgery. “Therapists come
daily
basis to make me stronger,” she says, “and it’s
working. I am getting stronger by the day.”
Classmates who pull up stakes and move
from
longtime homes are bravely adjusting. Vonetta
a
(Putzie) Baron
view—Mount Vesuvius. “What
want?” she says.
important
One
son
lives in Boston with
a
mother-
in-law nearby, and the oldest lives in DC,
WINTER
2014
near
Security and
for Viagra and testosterone
enhancement. (At
Reunion, I want to find out how that works. I
mean
spam.) Joan broke her hip “just before
the big 80,” which took months to heal,
graduating from walker to cane and gaining
an
appreciation for balance she used to take
for granted. “I have really slowed down but
recalls
sons.
one
classmates’ hyper-activism on all social fronts.
Like many of us, she received replies re discounts
they did
want
to do either, they moved to
Meadows, NJ, to be near one of their
can
Medicare. She mentions this because of
finally have an
not
more
have considerable family
issues like Social
Lapidow and her husbandmoved
from Vermont, where he had lived for 82 years,
and they had lived for 58 years. Since many of
their friends had died or moved to Florida and
Princeton
They
iPhone and can now text to and
compete with my grandkids.” Joan has four in
college.
too
told
Observes
old to
us
our
Joan, “And I thought I was
join the high-tech generation.” She
graduation when Adlai Stevenson
“the world is
your oyster. Go find the
is skeptical. A stalwart Yankee, she
pearl.” She
still loves Florida’s all-year
summer.
celebrated her
Schlank
80th
public speaking.
did grow up in
Princeton where the novel is set, if the book is
Drive
05482
802.985.4272
there, all within walking distance. Not so at
home, although grandchildren live in the same
town, six of them are so busy with activities and
homework that they get to see them at ball games,
and you all, dear classmates, know the rest. Didi
is still studying Italian and doing much
sewing
as she has in the past. She is looking forward to
Reunion THIS JUNE. Someone wrote
me
saying
she thought it was
next
year. No, no.
I cried.
Robin
Shelburne, VT
with great
...
phone
’B5, the Lermans are a three-generation Vassar
family. Congratulations to the three. Carla, who
has almost recuperated from a stroke, is feeling
much, much better and will be at Reunion. I live
from her Teaneck home, so we
15 minutes away
see each other anddiscuss everything. Lucky me.
Salve, everyone! See you in Poughkeepsie.
in
pleasure. And
People ask Jean, who
learn via cell
Olivia Lake Lerman
that she has early acceptance to Vassar. That
means
along with Carla ’54 and son Josh Lerman
a young girl, who resembles, somewhat, the
heroine of her story, concerning major lessons
in tolerance. I (an older adult) read the book
as
to
granddaughter
Truro, with a private beach and art studio,
to Florida, to New Jersey. Whew, I just took a
breath. She has two daughters there and five
grandchildren. Carol has just reconnected with
her high school
and husband Paul
Lerman
extremely delighted
were
has been whirling
Sheridan
in
jeanshriver7s4@gmail.com
52
she says.
highly educated cosmopolitan population and
ideally located between NYC and Philadelphia.
Adds Putzie, “I’m never
moving again, so come
07504
310,377.1722
back,
a
nearby in
normaellen@aol.com
Rancho
on
Princeton Meadows is
one
lottery,”
around the country from Scottsdale to her home
21
book is
the
won
973.345.3402
Jean
two
mother-in-law; they chose the
the uniform here.” She found the coast-to-coast
trip physically unsettling but had superb care at
Kaiser. Feel better, please. And cross
the country
again for our 60th reunion.
Harrison
East
a
Lawrenceville. “He
Memorial with fabulous views of Washington.”
Connie is active in the National Museum of
Women in the Arts and the
Capital Speakers
Club of Washington and supports Young
Concert Artists. She was
interested to find she
the oldest in an intensive course
not
in
was
Ginny
“Remember when one
Ebey writes,
Carden
thought of
‘Bo’
Mentally, she feels “about as old
graduated” but is grateful that new
as
as
old?”
when I
medica-
tion has taken
away the
pain from rheumatoid
exercise again.
brated their 50th
Tatge cele-
Everbach
wedding anniversary Dec.
20, 2013, planning to dine with their three
children and one grandchild. Did you know
that our class established a gift in Nov. 1954,
of a scholarship for Vassar students? Our
class president, Lillian
of
Jasko, sends news
this year’s new
recipient of the class of 1955
Endowed Scholarship: Fiona Jane Abrams T6,
from Kingston, NY. Fiona intends to major
in psychology, but is also interested in art,
sociology, and music. She plays violin in the
Vassar Orchestra and works as
office assisan
for the Health Education Office. Lilian
tant
Weinberger Sicular plans to join the Vassar
Tahitian Jewel trip with her daughter, Eve,
“the Klezmer musican.”
Did
Putnam
you see
in the
the article
Sept.
on
Liz
Cushman
2013 issue of the Vassar
Alumnae/i & Families eNewsletter ? You can read
it
the web at
on
alums.vassar.edu/publications/
newsletter/issues/2013/09/. Liz was
the first
conservationist to receive the Presidential
Citizens
Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian award, in 2010. Liz founded the Student
Conservation Association (SCA) in 1957, building on her Vassar senior thesis in geology. She
was
back at Vassar, planting trees on the farmland, in Sept. 2013.
Moir
Lyn Ross
writes, “Sadly, after being
made redundant from his job in Johannesburg,
South Africa, and unable to find work in the
U.K.,
became extremely depressed and
life in August (2013). A shattering
son
my
took his
own
blow for
us
all. He leaves
a
wife and three
young
children.” Thanks to Lyn for sharing that with
I’m
us.
sure
all
we
join in sending her sympathy
read Lyn’s poetry at www
and love. You can
.poetrypf.co.uk/lynmoirpage.html.
Nancy Hinchcliffe
with Pat Mendlovitz
had dinnerrecently
Butler
Faith
Nachman
Klein
the Outer Banks
Nags Head, NC,
spends
in
summers
the beautiful sound in
on
and
hopes that
I’ll
come
to
cottage in the Outer Banks at Kill
Devil Hills, on the beach. We can surely get
grandchildren. Joan
too, have
a
together!
Faith also
enjoys being
a
part-time
the Jewish
volunteer at Kennedy Center and at
Genealogy Society of Greater Washington.
Marlynn
a
Weinsheimer
in Oak
husband,
splendid
shortly
on
a
the Barneses
had
about to
transatlantic cruise. In
King
leave
life anew
somehow. XO to all, Poo.” Many
have gone through this sadness, Poo! Trust
plays at the Shaw Theater in Niagara-on-the-Lake,
Ontario, Canada. Nancy is the librarian at the
Shaw Theaterand is currently doing research for
a George Bernard Shaw scholar, who had found
Shaw comments
on
a 1907 newspaper photo of
me, it will get better, and it would be therapeutic
for you to come to our mini-reunion in Savannah
girls. The
newspaper had covered up the
bottom half of the Vassar girls, who were
wear-
ing, Nancy says, “TROUSERS! Horrors.”
Norma
Knudsen
Cummings had a wonderful family reunion in Bar Harbor, ME, in Aug.
2013: “A week together for 18 of us, 3 daughters and spouses,, and 10 grandchildren, plus
significant other. We were only missing one
grandchild.” She was scheduled to take a 28-day
trip to New Zealand and Australia in Jan. 2014.
one
has two titaJoseph Stephens now
nium knees and one titanium shoulder, “which
Sue
is enhanced by
small
a
of cobalt.” The
replaced in Jan. 2014. She
other shoulder was
has had
to
have
we
age range of 66 to
an
106. We
have interesting classes, outdoor sports, discussions, arts groups, concerts, and “field trips.”
Sometimes it reminds me
of Vassar!
report the following deaths:
Jennings on July 6, 2013, and
It is sad to
Cynthia
Polly
Booth
Utter
Alger
July 24,
on
Lois
Fishstein
Bregstein is anticipating a major series of 2013 events
involving
birthdays. Her husband John will be 85, and
2013.
all of
Ellen
Road
23505
at Travis Gallery in New
powerful and beautiful work,
which appears in the background of a photo
of the handsome young artist, was inspired by
his home in Point Pleasant, PA, and also the
News this time is
embarrassment of
an
riches,
particularly embarrassed about
not
to
time before dead-
waste
about
always these days,
grandchildren,
but this is
from Virginia (Ginny)
Coath-Cleary Horsch, who has 17. I started
an
to
impressive
write that
by Regina
ized that
husband,
Ginny had
Pouder
some
Ed.
one
Arnold
beaten the record set
with 16 until I real-
of Ginny’s crew
belong
to
her
Cecile
Gerletz
Steinberg
Nottingham Court
Champaign, IL 61821
57
2606
South
217.359.2607
cecile.steinberg@gmail.com
I write
leaves start
as
chill wind starts
to
to warn
become colorful and
a
of what’s ahead, but
me
you will no doubt be reading this as winter wanes.
Despite the thermometer’s descent, I am warmed
by your news and always impressed with what so
Schonberger
many of you accomplish. As Judith
Harris
points out, many of us don’t feel as old as
bodies are acting. She has continued to work
our
as a psychotherapist, but recent
spinal operations
have caused her to think about a new reality.
A happy note
is eldest grandson, who is in his
fourth year of medicalschool. Ann Shanedling
Phillips is also recovering from surgery—a bilateral knee replacement, but she continues to work
her 10-yearproject, restoration of the synaon
where she
grew up. Sally
Opel is still heading a regional opera
company in Albuquerque and hosting a stream
of houseguests who come to enjoy New Mexico
Virginia, MN,
gogue in
Mecray
and,
Tate
I’m sure,
her hospitality. She has spent the
out old piles of paper, canceled
throwing
summer
It’s
interesting
her kids won’t have
so
inherit her chaos. Not
a
to see
have adapted to
mates
environments
bad
example for
how some
of
our
us
to
all!
class-
(aka “retirement”)
and taken charge. Judy Easton
new
Delaware River. The talent of the Anthonisen
Opsahl and her husbandlive in a retirement
community in the Bay Area and have started both a Mac users
group and an investment
for our class to
family is just one more reason
be proud of its members and of those they have
discussion group. That in addition to a trip to
explore Mayan ruins in southern Mexico and
raised.
plans
to
Margaret Parkinson
Wright reports that she
and her husband are both retired but still active
in science and horticulture.She adds that travel
Alice
Handelman
also moved to
and their grandchildren intersect and they’re
taking a 14-year-old with them in the summer
another’s homes to share their collections and
talents. Alice expanded this by videotaping these
Barcelona and the Pyrenees. I wonder if
take me, too. Linda Bassett
to alternate their summer
grandchildren. They see
seven
here’s the first item. As
I get notes
PA. His
Hope,
Royer in Maine and Clare
(fax)
funnyhope22@yahoo.com
line,
Daniel has
they
Johnson
contin-
in South
Bristol,
ME, with winter in Cleveland. In Maine, they
are
visited on and off by their three children and
Hall
members of the Storrs Friends Meeting (a
Quaker community) for two decades.
were
checks, and the like
Anthonisen’s son
ues
Talbot
757.626.1669
as
Friedman
103
Norfolk, VA
I’m not
that above-mentioned Savannah
Hope Christopoulos Mihalap
757.623.0429
though
at
read together, and shared great wit. They
books,
had a show of his art
can
it at all. So
us
mini-reunion!
to
56
Susan and Linda will be 55 and 50.
Lois, don’t you feel as I do, that our kids are
becoming older than we are? The Bregsteins
have by now celebrated graduations of grandchildren: David from high school,
Morgan
from Lehigh, and Becca from graduate school
for physical therapy as a prelude to becoming
with
a doctor. Lois, you can
regain contact
amount
give up making pottery temporarily
so is now
making bead necklaces.
I am
enjoying being an active resident of
retirement community in
a continuing care
Vermont. From independent living, through
stages of assisted living, to long-term memory
care,
the week of May 16-19, 2014, for the laughter
and camaraderie. Please come!
daughters
blended family of five children and eight
and David edited each other’s
a
to
“Just lost my husband of almost 57 years.
... Words fail me, but I will survive, I know, and
of us
ed
May 2014,
head back to Michigan.
A brief and sad note from Wayne (Poo) Goss
Douglas can be quoted almost in its entirety:
planned
married
was
1978. In 1980,
and her
Barnes
for the summer,
seafood lunch with Audrey Maise
Hill, FL,
and her husband, Alan, who were
21. She
at
she married David Morse, a writer and human
activist. Their 32 years of marriage creat-
rights
start
Vassar
Stanford
at
Hall from 1959 to
James
visit. By the time
you read this, I will have
phoned Faith to tell her with pleasure that I,
and her husband
and granddaughter, when they attended a few
Goldman
doctorate
to
Anne
MacDonald
Weed Obermeyer in
Cleveland at the tennis court.
Linda also enjoys
bird-watching, ikebana, and aerobics. I now feel
like Jabba the Hutt after reading this.
to an obituary, that of Joan
Finally, I come
Joffe
Hall, whoseacademic and literary accomplishments dazzled me. She taught at the U. of
the first woman
Connecticut, where she was
hired for a tenure-trackposition in the English
department and was the founder of the women’s
studies program. In addition to being “a tireless
activist of women’s rights and gender equity,” she
was
also
at age
her first poem
a gifted poet. Joan wrote
4, entered Vassar at 16, and received her
do the
in Belize and Guatemala.
same
and her husband have
community. One of
Model
retirement
a
the programs there is
to
have residents visit one
residents and airing this on closed-circuit TV so
the less mobile people there can visit them as well.
We continue to
have active retirement in
Rosen
other ways. Joan Goldsmith
workswith
the Writing Center of Oakland U., whenshe’s
not
on
a
cruise
Harkness
state
or
Hallahan
in Chile. Cynthia
fly-fishing
continues
and national legislators
on
actively
to
lobby
conservation and
environmental issues. And
Maren
Henry
the boards of two organizations dealing with art and architecture. Her
daughter, Nell, is editor of global central banks
at the Wall Street Journal.
Henderson
serves
Poppy
years of
on
Hamlin
trips
Holmes
in
one
reports
on
summer.” She
“three
was
in
Belgium, took a side trip to St. Petersburg, and
then to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania where her
husband sang withthe Yale Alumni Chorus. They
found the people of these countries delightful and
inspiring. Margot Farr Baldwin
experienced a
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
53
different kind of trip —her husband broke his
ankle while they were hiking in Acadia National
Park. Margot reports that learning to use crutches
at age 85 is no
fun—butthey
still planning
are
Mesoamerican art
go to Mexico to study
lots of museums
and walking!).
interesting
the college through
Marilyn
to
(with
Joss
for
reports that her
granddaughter, Stephanie Hammerman, has
become an inspiration for people with disabilities.
Goldberg
Barbara
classes and exhibits and “found it particularly
to talk to people who only knew
Niad
Plauth,
Bulger, Helen Gigliotti, Joyce Goll
Crump, and I and our husbands/sweeties gathered at Bobby and Bill’s home for three days.
all been together for 55 years.
We visited art collections, toured a pueblo,
company
assistant for the movie Lincoln.
And now
are
for
and Carol
putting together a
for
for all of us!
exciting news
Davidson
Swiller
team
Judi
Nipomnich Dixon
to
plan a
mini-reunion
class. So save September 17-20, 2015,
long weekend in Minneapolis! The weather
our
for a
should be perfect, and there will be many artistic,
cultural, and fun activities. Most important, it will
be terrific for
us
together again.
to get
regular
As is too
section of this column,
a
end with sad news.
I must
Susanna
Waldner
husband, James, a renowned physicist
who paved the way for laser technology, died in
Gordon’s
July 2013.
Munoz
And
also
our
Madeleine
own
Perrault
away in July 2013. Maddie
teacher in elementary educa-
passed
first worked
as
a
as Vassar’s assistant director of
admissions for three years and then went
to
on
in industry. She was an active
a successful career
in retirement in Bozeman, MT.
teer
Mary
58
Lou
Albright Johnston
(winter/fall)
141
West
Querques Lane
Orange, NJ
07052
973.746.5429
mloujohnston@verizon.net
Marcia
Pears
Easterling
(spring/summer)
10 Holland
Street
Falmouth, MA
Jane
02540
deeply satisfied
youth,
and another dear friend. I think that
in all those years. . . . Tears came
the
started to walk over
my eyes when we
bridge; I realized thatthis was my trip to ‘boun-
Brooklyn
to
tiful’
my hometown always had been for me.
in California . . . but realize that
as
enjoy living
I
the New York
girl still occupies
walk and
to
see
a
lot better.”
Marcia
Sandmeyer Wilson
happily displayed
her
paintings at Oktoberfest at the Schifferstadt
1700 s stone house in
by German immigrants
Architectural Museum,
Frederick, MD,
and like
one
built
a
her German and Swiss
ances-
might have lived in. Maggie Velde Uyeki
enjoyed “A Day at Vassar,” an open house for
Vassar’s friends and neighbors. She attended
tors
WINTER
2014
legally break dorm
A super way to
curfew rules!”
59
a
spot inside
Elizabeth
(Betsey)
Wanning
Harries
PO Box
932
Williamsburg, MA
55TH
01096
413.268.3229
REUNION
eharries@smith.edu
Susan
69
Bowditch
Pine
Hill
Barre, VT
Talmadge
Road
0564
802.476.7281
Vttroll@aol.com
Plans
are
already bubbling for our next reunion,
June 13-15, 2014. Six classmates and their
husbands got together at the annualOctober “A
Day at Vassar” program this fall to have a mini-
mini reunion
on
campus and to brainstorm for
the reunion: Diane
planning lunch with our alumnae affairs coordinator, and also enjoyed the lectures, walks, and
good meals. Dewey reports that both the college
Manhattansublets for a
any classmates know of
month or less at a time, I would be interested.”
Lois and
my heart.”
June 2013,
Joan
Lynch Thomas,
an
to
Leshan
Polly Evans
explains: “Here is a
surprise—it has all happened suddenly when
just the right house became available. David
and I are moving to a Quaker life-care community exactly five miles from where we have lived
for 29
but we have
years. Moving is daunting,
turned the corner
and are now looking forward
to moving day. I’ve been writing about the
process, and especially about all the odd little
things I have kept over all the years—writing
about them somehow salves the sting of moving
I have so many
on.
thoughts about this move
to
hear from others who have
with Polly or Joan
mation from AAVC
by calling
can
at
inforrequest contact
oaadweb@vassar.edu or
845.437.5400.
Although Julia
Brown
Sneden’s husband
dren
well, sons and spouses and grandchilare
splendid. She has been deeply involved
in Senior Women Web
as
columnist and book
Pages named the
of “10 Good Sites for the Thinking
site one
Woman.” She is also passionately disturbed by
the political changes in North Carolina since
the 2010 redistricting.
Coleman Davies
Irrepressible Chase
writes: “Nothing like simultaneous
resignations of the executive director and associate
director to
remove
all free time from the presi-
dent of the board’s calendar. That’s me, folks!
Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center is
1,000
acres
of prime woodland with 3.5 miles
Kramer,
Lois
Friedman, Dewey
Rehoboth Beach, DE, near
a son, grandto
daughters, and sister. Joan plans to return
the city for 10-day visits every few months. “If
In
Weiss
Orenstein
inveterate New Yorker for 77 years, moved
to
reviewer since 1999. Hub
new
sleep....
to
Leventhal, Helen
Zalkan
Pearl, Gerry Poppa Schechter, and Myra
Kriegel Zuckerbraun.
They had a productive
close
I
and
likewise with black-capped chickadees. Some
went
nights, the birds, and therefore we, never
at
is not
taking my passion for photography to a
level, and I am hopeful that my new hip
pending cataract
surgery will allow me to
no
come
than
last. Eve lived in California more
50 years, and this was
my first time back to
home
spontaneous road trips through Europe
and South America with neither reservations
reservation may be something of the past.
nor
am
to
made or are making a similar change—or have
decided firmly Not To.”
Classmates wishing to share their thoughts
our
54
of her
the town
and would love
Norway’s fjords to the polar cap in July 2012.
“Best of all, we shared this journey with Susy
debt.” On a happier note,
current
England, Chase visited Anne Hetzel
Nalwalk
and Marilyn Flor, “a Vassar zoology
grad student who studied roosting and awakening of the northerncardinal while I was doing
marriage in 1960. One morning, they took the
subway to Brooklyn, exiting at the station closest to the Brooklyn Bridge. After walking across
it, they continued to Manhattan’s Chinatown
for lunch. Earlier that week, “our first show
had been The Trip to Bountiful in which the
main character, an elderly woman,
returns
to
measterling7@comcast.net
Grignetti and Mario had a
memorable cruise from Copenhagen through
Brandt
again.”
once
Joyce Goll Crump and Jack enjoyed a week
of theater in NYC, where she lived until their
508.495.0787
Barnett
there is
in New
told stories, and enjoyed being in each other’s
tion. She served
and beloved member of our class, chaired our
20th reunion, and remained a loyal Vassar volun-
in
early September
Grouse
grandson’s graduate
work in biology included a grant to study aviary
diseases and their effect on our military around
the world. Her granddaughter was
a production
Johnson Buck, whose
Pat
writes: “Five roommates
Trail
reunion. Bobby Greene
sweet
a
Ruth
We had not
as
one-day experience.”
in Santa Fe, NM, in
met
the
first Cross Fit trainer and adaptive athlete with
cerebral palsy. Another proud grandmother is
featured on national TV and press
She was
this
of lakeshore in central Minnesota. Fortunately,
and Poughkeepsie
so
are
Lieber
looking better and better.
Myra have agreed to be program chairs,
them if
you have ideas.
contact
Fine
Gardening(Aug. 2013) featured an artiRice
Arnold
cle by Maile
about how to espalier
fruit trees. She is still creating gardens withoutthe
use
of chemicals and has started making cheese
from the milk of her
Last summer,
Carol
two
Nubian goats.
took her second
Williams
Japan to visit her son Alex Jordan, who
has been living in Tokyo since 2011, this time
to attend Alex’s wedding to his Japanese fianSince they are planning to continue living
cee.
in Tokyo, Carol will probably be making more
trips—and trying to learn a little Japanese
(a challenge).
trip
to
Sue
Bowditch
Talmadge reports that the
weather in Vermont has become more
and
torrential rain, thunderstorms,
extreme:
more
and cold winds followed by record-breaking
heat and humidity. Last summer,
they visited
their two
childrenand four grandchildren who
live in Portland, OR. Another
were
supposed
to
son
and his family
join them from Idaho, but
by forest fires: more extreme
held up
climate conditions!
they were
Glen
Breakup!
Maloney Alderton’s second novel
is now
available on Kindle—and, as
Norman
Mary Agnes Foshee
reports, it’s a great
read with surprising twists for only 99 cents.
Last
spring,
Karen
Dahlberg VanderVen,
degrees from the U. of
awarded the 225th Anniversary
who received MA and PhD
Pittsburgh, was
Medallion, given to “alumniwhoseachievements
have brought honor to the university and whose
efforts have contributed
the past 25 years.”
to
Pitt’s progress
over
Peggy Graessle
Rochester to
of
Wier
has moved from
the
independent living section
continuing care place in Portland, OR.
a
in town, and Margot Simon
Perry lives nearby. Peggy says, “It’s s whole
Her
son
is
new
world out
a nurse
a
Karen
given by the
course
scholarship
a
Rare Book
“Medieval and Early Renaissance Book
take
to
School,
Binding
Structures,” which she says “falls under the
and more
about less and less.”
category of more
She hopes that Professor Katzenellenbogen is
looking down and smiling.
Writing from the Maryland shore, Gail
Nicholas
Schneider
reports that “life is flying
by.” She enjoys being 45 minutes from music and
theater in downtownWashington, but is happy to
be able to work for environmental causes
live where she learns
twined our
and to
“again and again how inter-
humanlife is with the life of nature’s
incredible creatures.”
Mary Tracy sent a story about meeting Gwen
Erickson ’6O in a pastry shop in DC to our class
email list—“small world, Vassar version.” (Copy
Tetreault
Allen
on request.) She also took Jodie
Terry
Pincus
the Old Lorton Jail (a
to lunch nearby to
to
center) and then
celebrate Jodie’s 75th.
new
arts
is semi-retired (emphasis on
Gerry Schechter
the semi, I think). This year she and Alan traveled to Tuscany (La Foce near
Montepulciano)
and
to
Albania, where they introduced their
Albania and their Albanian cous-
daughter to
ins. She also followed Alan to
Diisseldorf/Cologne
Amsterdam for
Lizzie
Zurich and
for meetings and to
sightseeing.
Bassett
reports that retirelot of free time. “I feel
Welles
has
not brought a
professional volunteer with gigs at the
Smithsonian, the National Museum of Women
in the Arts, and the Joint National Committee
on
Languages along with the book club, the
gym, and my family nearby.” She did manage
to get away to Panama last February, though, to
see
the canal and the huge Panamax container
ships, with side trips up to the arboreal canopy
ment
like
and
a
the water
across
dugout canoe,
They loved
in
to
one
of the San Bias
thatched hut, riding in a
and living without plumbing.
islands—staying
a
it.
Recently,
we’re lost several members of
Bikos’s mother,
family. Christine
Nick Bikos, died on Thanksgiving Day,
1959 VC
our
Mrs.
Nov.
Doukas
Williams’s beloved
24, 2012. Karlene
and healthy husband, Basil, died on June 23,
2013, as the tragic result of a medicalmistake.
And
our
died
on
her again
classmate Johanna Pindyck Steiner
Aug. 18,
2013. As
Gerry Schechter
(also her classmate at NYU Medical School)
in transfusaid: “She had a noteworthy career
sion medicine, particularly in the early days of
the AIDS epidemic. Working at the New York
Blood Center, she was
instrumental in creating policies that worked to guard the blood
supply from infected blood by her ‘confidential
exclusion process,’ which became part of WHO
policy.” Johanna and her husband, Philip, and
seeing
not
ed when I visited my daughter in Brooklyn
last
June. BJ invited me to an elegant, leisurely
of her death. Salve to all! —Betsey
lunch in her
Ruth
60
188
New
Edelson
East
64th
Street, #2704
York, NY
10065
201.406.6548
Elizabeth
First, an apology from VQ’s editorial staff. In the
previous issue, thelast sentence in the 1960 Class
Notes stated: “Sadly, some
of our classmates are
included in this issue’s necrology.” However, no
classmates were listed in that necrology. Because
of the lag time between the date the notes were
submitted and the date of their publication, the
of
Alessandra
Cantey,
Sheila
historic home. We raced
(Suni)
“I retired this
Clark reports:
(at last!) from Duke U., where I taught
summer
names
splendid
through years of history, current
doings, and
future plans. Chances are I can
lure
never
Barbara to Ashland, Oregon, for a visit, but it was
great fun to reconnect, reminisce, and catch up.”
Kilstein
ruthkilstein@verizon.net
Frede IMangle
and Ann
see
(Lolly) Westberg Egan writes: “After
or
hearing from one another for
Hendra
and I connect55 years, Barbara
Lola
a great pleasure to
ago. It was
then, and a great sadness to hear
up.
The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript
Library at Yale, where she works, awarded
many summers
here—new geography, culture,
food.” She escaped back to Nantucket for two
weeks, where she saw Ansie Silverman Baird,
Jean
Squire Hilliard, Diane
Flood, and Kathy
Greene
Lewis
for lunch, lobster, laughs, and
catching
I had lunch together in Down East Maine not
since 1982.1
feted with a three-day
featuring over a hundred
colleagues and former graduate students from
U.S. and abroad
In May, I received an honorary degree from Yale, which was an exciting (and
humbling) event.” Liz plans to remain in Durham,
but spend more
time in NYC. Shehas two book
projects under way, and regards retirement as an
religion
was
retirement celebration
Mallow, and Dorothy Frank Smith
had already been listed in the necrology section of
them nonetheless.
prior issues. We mourn
Neil and I
just returned from a fascinating
extended sabbatical.
trip to Cuba. Havana was once such a beautiful
city, but now it’s crumbling. Three houses collapse
daily because Cubansdon’t earn enough to afford
repairs. Fifty-four years under the oppressive
Communist
regime have reduced the Cubans to
meager survival, and dependence on remittances
from luckier American relatives. Very sad.
in-law, stayed overnight. Gail’s granddaughter
(VC ’l5) stayed a month while interning at a
NYC public high school; she’s now
interning in
Finkelstein
(Mellen) Daniels
Mary Ellen
and husband Mike downsized
Waukesha,
WI. Their
problem
McCormick
to
a
Costa Rica. Hazel
deciding
spent almost two
weeks visit-
Israel, staying with Rivka
Feinberg) Zahavy in Jerusalem.
ing family
Dilla
in
Gooch
“Wonderful
European
(Bobbi
Whit and
Tingley’s son
in Basel for
are
condo in
was
Lylas Good Mogk and her daughters spent a
weekendwith Hazel Grossman
Tishcoff. Then
Gail Bower Burger, with daughter and son-
family
two-year stint with Roche.
for Fred and me to take a
a
excuse
vacation with younger
Lem and
son
Three eventful weeks of travel in
what to do with accumulated possessions, and
his
where to put things so they could be found again.
“I think there is light at the end of the tunnel,
in northern Italy.” Dilla recently exhibited her
but it is interfering with my bridge game
duplicate, whichI love.”
beautiful art quilts, many inspired by Matisse,
at the Wellesley Free Library.
You
commission
can
a
painting of
—
your
Burkhardt.
home from Robin
She also makes
images of Parcheesi boards. “Why? Who
knows? It’s interesting to be in a mentality
where
do something but don’t
you feel calledto
understand where it will lead or why you are
doing it.” Robin recently exhibited her art at a
Cornwall-on-Hudson cafe, including a painting of Vassar’s 1904 basketball team. Robin
really enjoyed the class luncheonat Rockefeller
Institute last
spring.
Rather than face eviction, Marianne
Buchenhorner
forced to create
was
de
a
Nagy
“home-
office” in the apartment building where she has
practiced psychotherapy for more than 19 years.
She was
leave her old apartment and will
miss the daily 10-minute walks to and from
work. “However, this will be a good chance to
purge
sad
to
of the stuff I have collected
some
over
family.
Switzerland, France, and
at
Work. She
of her family.
is
publicist for
Set
mentors
inmate at
an
Women’s Correctional
Facility.
the 10th week. We have a curriculum to
her
help
make betterchoices whileshe’s in prison and after
she’s released. I enjoy the experience and feel that
I receive
than I give.”
more
There’s so much news
from classmates that
I’ll have to save some items for the next issue, to
meet
space
requirements.
61
Ellen
50
Almoian
Yuracko
East Hartsdaie Aveue
Hartsdale, NY
10530
wyuracko@aol.com
Up ,
a
Nada B. Glick
nadaglick@verizon.net
Phebe
Townsend Banta wrote
to
the book reviews interesting. “As
one
say
she found
who always
has my nose in a book, on a treadmill, I recommend Catherine the Great by Robert Massie, one
of the best books I
ever
read, and The Warmth
of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (about the
black migration from the South to the cities of
of its producers. Nancy is still
one
repeal Illinois’s law that deducts
money from unemployment benefits of workers receiving Social Security.
House.
is
to
an
on
the North in the USA).” Phebe
daughter
meet
hour a week for nine weeks with graduation
the 2013
grown-up romantic comedy that won
Neil Simon Festival New Play Contest. Her older
fighting
Denver
“We
the
granddaughters, one in Madrid, the other in
California, bringing the total to eight grandchildren. In
August, Babs joined her son and
his family at a Spanish mountaintop villa. Babs
still enjoys Princeton, where she is polishing her
personal essay collection about six generations
Solomon
Lake Orta
week on
Freddy Simpson Groff volunteers at Making
Choices, sponsored by the Center for Spirituality
years, and the setup will be nice for my practice.”
Levin
the birth of two
Babs
announces
Nancy
a
authorWilkerson
Anne
Luquer
at a
was
lucky to
meet
book signing at Alumnae
Boswell
also found the book
commentary really interesting and said she
is grateful to the people who made the books
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
55
known to her. On
in Hanover,
a
note, Anne, living
singing in choral
personal
NH, enjoys
groups. Her oldest grandson has entered
medical school in Hong Kong, where she will
visit him.
and her
husband moved from Nice, France, where they
lived for the past 11 years, to Palm Springs,
CA, where we winter. So she and I (Ellen) had a
In
October, Cathy
chanceto
35-year
in
emerita at
Greenblat
I learned that Cathy had a
reconnect.
career
Stein
sociology
Rutgers
and is
U. in New
professor
now
Jersey
and
an
honorary professor at Glasgow Caledonian U.
she
in Scotland. During her academic career,
authoredmore
than 100 professional articles and
14 books and lectured around the world. With
a family history of Alzheimer’s, she chose that
subject for her
a photographer.
Laughter: Seeing
Alzheimer’s Differently was published, photos
from it were
exhibited in Europe and the
USA. Cathy just returned from six weeks in
Australia, where her photos are being exhibited
new
career
as
In 2012 after Love, Loss and
in seven
capital cities. More info can
www.LoveLossandLaughter.com.
be
seen
on
writing from NYC, said she
a
job she
ago, after 10 years at
Bette
and created a chambermusic group in Austin in
which she played viola and her husband played
the flute. Joan and husband Fritz had two daugh-
roommate
ters, Jennifer and Laura, and had homes in Austin
and
where each of her daughters lives.
enjoyed the
She and Fritz also had ties to the American music
community in Rome, where they traveled often.
Joan frequently hosted social gatherings. She was
Howard and Wendy Lipsey Ecker
ful lunchwith Mandy Fessenden
dynamite poker player. Bette said: “Joan was
friend, loyal and true, from the time we met
when we were
17, on our first day at Cushing
lunchvia motor
Brooklyn,
a
and exercise classes that she’d attended several
times a week when working. She promises herself
she’ll
back. Number one on her bucket list is
go
studying art —which she never studied at Vassar,
despite its excellent art department. She loves the
artwork she bought through Vassar’s Haiti project. She attends dance concerts, film festivals, and
theater—mostly off-Broadway. She is grateful for
all that New York has to offer.
And on a personal note, in August, my youngest daughter had a second child—a daughter.
My fourth grandchild. So while visiting her
in Chicago, I had a chance to catch up with
Taplin Crawford, who lives there. Sue
Susan
has the good fortune to have a lovely house in
a wonderful part of the city. It is close to every-
thing (theater, movies, beaches, restaurants) yet
feels like a small community. Last June, Sue
finished the two-year creative writing program
at the U. of Chicago. In the program, she worked
in her Chicago neighborhood in
on
a novel set
the mid 19705. The central character is
Bette
Kalisch
Joan
was
with
a
stay-
marriage she’s uncertain
about, a rebellious oldest child, an abused best
friend, and an unshakableaspiration to become
a costume
designer at the nearby theater. Back
in real life, during the summer
Sue headed with
her husband, Robert, to the Adirondacks and
had a lovely month with children, children-inlaw, and grandchildren. But now she’s back at
writing and hopes to have a solid draft
finished shortly.
at-home
mom
Fried
all those years ago. I miss her.”
Correction: Flave you ever
proofread
some-
thing and still failed to spot the glaring typo?
Well, we didn’t spot an impossible date printed
in the fall magazine. To set the record straight,
Elizabeth
Orton Davis’s beloved husband,
Robert, died on December 25,2012.
us
of the death of
Joan
Kraber, who died on June 11, 2013.
when
diagnosed with breast cancer
49. The metastasis to her bone was
managed. Unfortunately, the recent metastasis
she
to
was
her liver
majored
in
was
too
zoology,
pervasive.
At Vassar,
studied the violin, and was
interested in philosophy. She earned
WINTER
2014
Joan
a
master’s
Sherry Bingham
visited Vassar
Downes
in Tucson,
AZ, and they reminisced about early days at
Vassar and fresh memories of our 50th as they
Barbara
Rintala
Arizona desert and southwestern
foods. While
husband,
Johnston
on
Fred.
cruise that
a
stopped
62
20
Main
McDonnell
Street
Dover, MA
02030
As many of
retire from
jobs and see our families scatter, we have become increasing involved
in helping others, giving our time and/or money
that are dear to us, and caregiving to
to causes
friends and family needing help. Betsy Mills
Hughes does a lot of caregiving, and she also
teaches at the U. of Dayton Lifetime Learning
Institute. She and her husband, Bob, are both
retired teachers, and they give their time, energy,
and expertise, having already taught many
courses.
They have also been involved for many
both on the board
years at a homeless shelter,
and actively participating in the building. This
project has welcomed many Rwandan refugees
us
their entry into American life
and work. Betsy looks forward to hearing about
what others have done and are doing.
and has overseen
Jane
Siegendorf Isenberg’s novel The Bones
the 2013 WILLA Literary
and the Book won
Award. This is an award given annually for
outstanding literature featuring
scooter.
At Reunion, Judy Moulton
Seymour
Willa Gather. Jane’s book and reviews
are
avail-
able on Amazon.
Marthe
Atwater
Chandler
is
enjoying
retirement: “I get to do everything I want
to
and nothing I don’t.” She is a retired philoso-
phy professor, and she spends the winter in Las
Vegas where her husband teaches at UNLV. The
of the year she is in Indiana.When she wrote
in June, she was about to leave for Singapore for
rest
conference and then to Malaysia to enjoy the
beach with friends.She stays healthy and happy
a
doing tai chi almost every day.
Many classmates have written about reconnecting with Vassar friends and how much their
shared Vassar
their renewed
background has contributed to
Di
friendships. Irene Stocksieker
visited Martha
Pekurney Edwards
her husband, Hal, in Wake Forest, NC.
Maio
and
Rhoda
Orme-Johnson, visiting from Florida,
had lunch in NYC with Laura
Zuckerman
Bonovitz
was
serious surgery for a large
very
brain aneurysm. She is happy to report thatthe
anticipating
a
well and she is hoping to be allowed
driving soon.
While having lunch today with Sue Twyman
Targett, I learned of the passing in Sept. 2013
Scheu
Palmer’s husband.
of Jim Palmer, Purcell
Our class has enjoyed severalwonderful reunion
surgery went
to
resume
the Hudson
condolenc-
Purcell.
to
es
Scheele
and her husband,
Marney Male
Bob, celebrated their 50th anniversary with
100 family and friends at a party at the
U. of Wisconsin Arboretum, where Marney is
a
naturalist.
Vassar has informed
2013 of Pamela
Sims
condolences to her
son
me
of the death in June
de
Leon.
and two
We send
our
daughters.
The former mini-reunion committee for
50th reunion had
our
NYC
by making
a
mini-mini-reunion in
pilgrimage
a
Ground Zero.
to
Louise
Leipner Arias, Fay Gambee, Carol
Hass
Goldman, Penny Pleger Hudnut, Bonnie
Scott
Maclnnes
Meagher, and Betsy Jacks
joined one
of the project managers and received
the overall perspective on the mission of the
reconstruction of Ground Zero. The mission is
of horrito bring community life back to an area
ble devastation and also
to
provide
a
place of
reflection and healing for all who have suffered
loss. Each classmate was profoundly affected by
her time spent at the site. Classmates might be
interested in creating a group to
museum, which opens in 2014.
women’s stories
set in the West. The award is named in honor of
and her
Brauer
live in Bali and arrived for
They
at their very special home on
River. We will miss Jim and send our
Jean Donahue
in Bali,
had a wonder-
parties
a
told
Philadelphia.
a
Vassar62notes@gmail.com
retired, she stopped attending Spanish classes
50th
to
in the arts, Joan switched from violin to
a few years after college, played with the
American Ballet Theatre, the Austin Symphony,
508.785.1119
baffled that after she
our
viola
on
younger workers. She was
Kaplan. Since
Barbara
est
at
play therapy. In her last position, she focused
Most satisfying was
parent-child treatment.
passing her knowledge/experience on to the
and
Altshul
reunion, Carolyn Hines
Urquhart has kept in
touch with Jonelle
Carey Rowe and Fran Benson
Hogg. Jonelle has moved from Washington, DC,
Fried,
retired a year
considered to be the fruition of her professional
life. As a child therapist, she was always talented
56
in music and an MBA. In the business
she did the financial books for a young
area,
designer and sold real estate. Pursuing her inter-
degree
on
visit the site and
Bonovitz
Orme-Johnson
Check out Rhoda
YouTube! She has three videos on her book
of Consciousness, which is a collection
of Maharishi’s talks on literature and language.
The YouTubes are available in French as well
The Flow
as
English.
Another creative classmate,
Marie
France
Siegler-Lathrop, has prepared a feature film
The Invisible String. She has sent it to Suzanne
D'Autremont
Gouvernet, who was
going
to
present it
to
a
women’s film festival in
Rochester, NY.
Pretending (to ourselves) that we are young,
in-shape, and experienced bikers, my husband,
a
John, and I signed up for an adventure
biking trip beginning in Prague and ending in
Vienna. Since we are neither young nor particularly in-shape, and we rarely bike, we took an
“easy” trip and enjoyed every minute of it. It is
fun to undertake a challenge. I look forward to
hearing about your challenges and the causes
that have inspired
you.
...
63
respectively, jumped in a car and drove
Wisconsin to surprise Biss Mygatt Nitschke
Rups. They were definitely surprised.
Spiller
Jill
45
Sutton Place, IB
New York, NY
10022-2445
(cell)
01.29.13.
Abby Schmelkin
Chairs Judy Kleinberger and Abby Schmelkin
Big brother Jack is two and a half.
Very Special Thanks to Reunion Hospitality
Araten
Duxbury Road
Purchase, NY
Araten, for their brilliant reunion concept. They
enlisted everyone for their committee who volunteered to help, and asked them to linger around
10555
914.671,5745
abbyaraten@aol.com
Ellen
Rosen
and David have
Hirsch
from Umbria and Bettona,
Rome.
They
and Anne
met
Wood
a
the entrance
just returned
little
they saw,
Hawks
Lombardi
locals Vicki
Metelli
for lunch in Spoleto.
Ellen writes:
no
Davison and welcome anyone
would feel “lost” or “alone.”
one
It worked. What a wonderful welcome we all had.
near
town
to
so
Paulina
Adebusoye, retired univerfrom Nigeria with her
Makinwa
sity professor,
came
that Frank,
In
all cured, is not
even
November,
husband for Reunion and to visit three of their
four childrenwho live in the U.S. The fourth lives
back for the first time since leaving in June 1963.
There are some
mini-reunions in the works
Canavan Martin.
few years: Chicago, San Antonio,
Boston, NYC, and San Francisco are the sites
under consideration. Liddy Morrison
Baker,
Mueller
Vicki. Vicki had
Barbie
Lucy Rosenberry
seen
from Wayzata, MN,
on
a
cruise
Jones
in Rome.
stop
Sadly, I must report the deaths of two classJane
mates:
Soifer Blume
(09.17.13) and Marian
Clifford
(09.20.13). Jane, a Russian major,
moved around for husband Philip’s medical
Foster
career, spent many years
working
at Minnesota
Public Radio, and subsequently in Portland,
OR, and finally at KUNM in Albuquerque. Her
daughter recalled: “Whatever organization
she
joined, she would end
not
a
up
president.
It
was
Belgium. Paula
for the
among those who
was
were
next
Dana
Greppin, Sally Page Herrick,
Kingston, and I gathered in Lake
Placid to visit Barbie
Kellogg Stowe, since she
and Bill were
unable to join us as Vassar in June.
Alas, Anne Goheen
Crane, who is thankfully
Louise
Lauck
recovering from a serious fall, was not able to
join us.
class
It is thrilling to see how strongly our
gifts, since 2010, credited to the reunion, impactthan $10.3
ed the Annual Fund total of more
million. Thank you, one and all.
search for power, but a deep commitment to
and the capacity to support those she
the cause
was
diagnosed with acute
only four days before she died; feeling
short of breath she went to the hospital where the
initial diagnosis was pneumonia but furthertests
pointed to undiagnosed leukemia. Condolences
to her daughter and son.
Marian, a mathematics major, died at home
after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
She
worked with.” Jane
leukemia
lived in St. Louis, where she grew up, and was
active in the Episcopal Churchand the Episcopal
Diocese of
Missouri, chairing the adulteducation
Heavenly Meals Ministry. She
committee and the
member of the St. Louis Service Bureau
Board of Directors of Care and Counseling and
was
a
Advisory Board. She was
also active in the Vassar
Club of St. Louis and a regional VP for ’63.
Condolences to husbandNicholas and three sons.
Alice Heyroth Gifford, wife of Professor
William Gifford, died last spring after a long
illness. Bill told me that he had received a condolence letter from Judith
Schachter, who was in
our
senior
English composition class.
He looked
her up on the Internet and discovered that she
has “an amazing list of publications in cultur-
anthropology, and ‘was running things’ at
Carnegie Mellon.” Another member of that class
al
is Julie
Harding Mehaignerie, whom I visited in
Brittany, France, in September. That day, a photo
of her husband, Pierre, was on the front page of
the local newspaper announcing his candidacy for
a seventh term
as mayor of Vitre, which he was
not
planning to do! Election is not until March.
An amazing
journey just before Reunion:
Anne
Nicholson
Weller, her dog, Charlie, Babs
Currierßell, and Susie Arensberg Diacou, from
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York
Alice
64
50TH
REUNION
Keidan
Lanckton
Newton,
MA
(cell)
alanckton@verizon.net
Our 50th reunion is
Haile
Sanow
hibernating
took her
gathering
steam! Joan
sentimental
own
journey,
in Atlantic City to write her reunion
book entry. Joan hopes to see Michal
Offutt, Karen Mathisen
Seaton, Cecilia
Jamison
Babcock
Ellman, and
Roberta
Garson Leis at Vassar in June.
Joan was horrified by the House Republicans
and their shutdown as were
other classmates.
Smith,
Jane
Levy Williams, Eileen
Margaret (Peggy)
editor
to
Barr
Eastman, a contributing
Oncology Times,
a
Benner
newspaper about
advances and controversies in cancer
of the Ritz-Carlton. Alice and Dyne honored
tradition by dozing a little in the first lecture.
of successful
to
me
Reports have come
filmmakers among our
classmates and their
children. Madaline
and
Borrebach
Tomlinson
her
daughter
Madaline Carol
Coffman, Virginia Caspar! Gerst, Alice Harper,
Anne
YoungclausStratton, Margaret McCurry
Tigerman, and her lucky self and Alice’s
cousin
as
well
as
a
docent from the Chicago
Mary Beth writes,
time home in Manila that she’s
brief
Bank,
runs
courses
on
living
successful surgery to replace his pacemaker.
Julia is so well that she bought special dancing
shoes with two-inch heels for her salsa dancing
several times a week. It’s less than $lO/hour for
a
dance instructor to dance with. (One
presumes
accom-
from successful neck surgery.
Mary Beth Beal cooked up a terrific Chicago
Smelzer
mini-reunion in the fall for Gretchen
science and
and/or working in the Philippines and crosscultural training. Husband Frank is well after
French
Sam, to the Oscars, where his
film Buzkashi
Boys was up for an award. Check
the website: www.buzkashiboys.com.
out
During her October NYC visit, Sue
McCallum Bledsoe
got together a Lathrop
gathering of Leslie Garis Kopit, Margie Mueller
McKittrick, Wendy Chinn Curtis, Alice Harper,
for lunch
Mary Peacock, and Wendy Aronson
at the Asia Society. Wendy is now
recovering
son,
could prove fatal for many of them.
Julia
Benjamin Holz writes from her
Asian Development
Tomlinson
stilt-walker, co-directed a short animated film,
Madelines’ Stilts, shown at the ninth annual
Washington, DC, FilmFest in October.
Floren,
Clay Floren, son of Livvy Richardson
has produced a film and a play currently on
Architecture Foundation.
volunteer with a Philippines NGO. She does
conflict resolution for her former employer
Lynn
and granddaughter (!) Lucy Madeline Saper, a
seventh-grade student who is also an artist and
research,
made this sobering point: 200 patients each
week enroll in investigational therapy at NIH;
it’s their last hope. But for two weeks all who
would have joined trials couldn’t, delay that
longhoping to
Onoue, Margie
McKittrick, Mary Peacock, Christy
Hoffman
Brown, and Alice—turned out for a
wonderful refresher of two Art 105 lectures
in NYC, followed by lunch on the 14th floor
panied her
02461
617.969.3899
617.694.1059
Christie
Alice also reports that five
classmates—Dyne
Broadway, Big Fish. Mary Oehrle
Dedham Street
198
the salsa type.)
Warner
dad, and Elizabeth’s son, Matt, and Matt’s wife,
Stephanie, in Asheville, NC. Matt’s a successful woodworker and wife Stephanie is a French
teacher. Elizabeth’s 97-year-old mother shared
top billing at a 66-member, 4-generation family
reunion with great-grandson Marcel. Elizabeth
is heading to Africa mid-winter with her fellow
Peace Corps volunteer and dear friend to “revisit the world we
called home 45
years ago”
in Togo.
According to Alice Harper, reunion chair
extraordinaire, “too many classmates to
mention” gathered for a reunion-planning
weekend at the college in October. Our reunion
fund chair, Gail Becker, and her committee have
built up a good treasury, as certified by our
excellentclass treasurer
(for 17 years!) Kathleen
“Although Anne and I had not seen
each other since our days in Davison 50 years ago,
it was
like old times. Anne’s husband, Afranio, a
successful artist, died last year, and a retrospective of his workwill be shown at SchemaProjects
in Brooklyn, opening on Friday, April 4.” They
toured the Terme dei Papi spa in Viterbo with
in
Elizabeth
enjoyed grandson Marcel Aldrich Christie, his
Jillspillel@aol.com
83
to
and
the birth
announces
Sally Specht Maddox
of twin grandsons: William Specht Maddox and
Hugh Easterly Maddox to Mary and John on
212.421.0932
917,363.7798
out
“Our theme was
old mantra
our
‘everything
correlates.’ The Newberry Museum gave
of their collecus
a behind-the-scenes tour
tion, including the conservation lab (nexus of
from the vault, and
art), treasures
a
selection of Vassar College artifacts. Then a
of an outstanding private collection
tour
art (in an
apartment designed by
Margaret McCurry Tigerman et ux.), followed
by a leisurely lunchat the Arts Club, where
AlexanderCalder letters and drawings
we
saw
related to his magnificent mobile Red Petals on
view at the Arts Club. The Newberry spent lots
of time and effort showing us how their mission
and Vassar’s are similar: educo, educare.” Mary
Beth, Alice, and Anne went to dinner the night
before, reminisced, and laughed so much so that
of modern
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
57
leavstaff said when they were
ing, “We know you had a good time!”
Cap Caplan reported on a fabulous nonstop
12-hour mini in SF: the new Exploratorium,
the
restaurant
the bay,
Bay Cruise, lots of walking near
cocktails at Cap’s apartment with a view of
the Golden Gate Bridge, and a perfect dinner
at Caffe Sport, a divinely kitsch North Beach
a
Attending
Italian restaurant.
Borrebach
Madaline
were:
Risley,
Tomlinson, Maxine Meltzer
Eliot
Fried, Judy
Sauter
Sherwood,
Mcllroy Searle,
Levy Williams,
Hannah
Young Sweet, Cap, and several signifiothers. Hannahrefused to leave untilshe
cant
had her tiramisu at another North Beach cafe.
Jane
Jane
one, but the music
beautiful. Caroline
was
Morris, who leads an enviable life of gardening
and travel, is doing good with her inheritance
plan: “I’m making a promised gift of a favorite
painting to Vassar and will donate my brain
and her
Joyce Apelian Hirsch
a lecture
while
husband
gave
husband, Jerry,
my
to the landscape architecture department at
the U. of Southern California, where Joyce’s
by the Alzheimer’s family-member
clinical trial in which I participate.” And Sara
to
for research
Hawkins
her
that we
news
have lost another classmate; Constance
Sholem, of Oregon, who worked as an
adoption social worker for 27 years. I remember very well talking all night with Connie
Wendin
community of Newport, NY, co-editing
As
usual,
Judith
some
Anderson
architecturalpractice, “but I’m finding so many
interesting things to do that instead it feels like a
and
from glamorous
unpretentious
was
and interesting. Connie married William Bill
Sholem in 1967; he died in 2001.1 remember
her leaving Vassar long before graduation with
Bill and a U-Haul piled high with her stuff.
as
grandchildren,
reports
a
And
of us continue to work no
some
Senate
Virginia
Tim Kaine’s
days a
ern
an
week and
campaign. Five
Burke, grandmoth-
ophthalmological
serves
as
medical
extensive network of doctors.
Bacal
continues to practice law in northWestchester County and travels frequently
Jessica
Auckland,
grandchildren. And the Shelburne Vineyard and Winery of
New
Zealand, to
visit
and successfully worked for years with a great
team, helping make life better for patients who
be unplaceable. She’ll sadly retire.
may now
to
I look forward to June 2014, and getting
together with all of us “girls with grandmother
faces,” who have lived so many lives since our
beautiful graduation day in May 1964. Please
flourish in Vermont, thanks to newly developed
hybrids, “hardy to 30° below zero.” This year,
Gail
Davis
they won
Albert
and husbandKen continues to
the “Best Red Wine in
65
739
Allston
Berkeley,
510.849.9494
Also
Competition”
at
I
am
Casas
we
can
Aug. 11,2013,
all be proud. Penelope published
cookbooks that discuss
seven
Spanish culinary tradi-
tion and
present specific recipes. The king of
Spain awarded her posthumously the title of
Dame of the Orden de Isabel la Catolica
4, 2013;
a
ceremony
was
held
at
the
on
Dec.
Spanish
Institute in NYC.
As
continue in our usual activities,
a class, we
Foote
is
example, doing good. Josie Pickard
working with the Junior League of Boston to
create
a pilot project for workshops that help
for
foster children “transition
care” and find
out
of government
housing, jobs, and educational
Another excellent
opportunities on their own.
deed: On Sept. 8, 2013, Victoria
Carberry Hurd
for MISSSEY,
gave a fund-raising piano concert
an
Oakland organization that fights childa good
trafficking. Not only was the cause
58
WINTER
2014
usual we
as
Vicki
Smith
continue to
practice
has had recent
Cole
paintings
locations. I’ve
sorry to report the death of Penelope Fexas
on
a classmate of whom
(Skype)
ejordahnscott@gmail.com
was
its
peak on the campus
gathered to plan for
Lunch at AC/DC, meet-
at
in several
published
three
our
exhibi-
Portland, OR,
more
stories in
obscure literary journals. And Laurel Blossom’s
fifth volume of poetry, a prose poem called
Longevity , will be published by Four Way Press
in 2015;
she
points
celebrate longevity.
And the traveling
as
out
that’s a
good year
to
classmates
our
a
ings
the
science
tions of Strong,
complex (due 2016) and renovaJoss, and the Observatory. Under
ClassPresident
Pam
new
Gift Chair
Jones
Barbara
and Reunion
formed
we
Clarke
Ludlam
Danz,
reunion committees for
fundraising, hospitality,
dinner,programming, and the book. We welcome
all classmates to join theseefforts. Please contact
Barbara
Weinstein
LeWinter
best reunion
our
volunteer for
to
ever.
Beth
revved up the engines
Grady Baurick
for the May 16-18 “Route 66” celebration in
New Mexico and invites all classmates to take
brain
advantage of the mini-reunion to renew
and spirit. Planners for the event
Carson, Eslee
IMordhaus
Messeca
include Susan
Schraeger Kessler, Betsy
(a NM native), and Judy
Feldman.
Ruth
Klippstein writes that she feels
Welch
rewarded by
LaCrescent.
tions of her
janeg@pwpla.com
1.678.701.8314
Siskind
arts.
(office)
Scott
Merida, Mexico 97000
named Best in Class at
dry white,
94710
Jordahn
Calle 58, #429C
Dobratz
Way
CA
Erin
the International
Cold Climate Wine
Competition and were also
for the third consecutive year
the Atlantic Seaboard
Association Wine Competition with their semiGillette
Valley, CA 94941
lindenberry@sbcglobal.net
Mill
great 50th reunion.
in Main, and dinner at Alumnae House with
followed by a tour
President Gappy Hill were
of
a
its Alzheimer’s unit, where Gretchen has
Brown
Hanger Berry
Eldridge Avenue
been
director for
Jane
150
where 20 of
clinic two
and continue the conversation!
Linden
66
Fall foliage
matter
retiring, Lynn Levins Kimmerly has
consultant to Obama’s 2008 Veterans
Racine, WI, in July 2014,
us
confides that she has been
MacCoull
Leslie
selected for Who’s Who in America.
what. After
for him. But Gretchen also received very sad
that Rush Medical School will soon
news
close
join
fame:
hobby: knitting sweaters. Her entire family
has one,
including the dogs. She’s waiting to
lose weight before she knits one for herself.
years after retirement, Moira
er of nine, works in a large
happily
in her age group in the September
one
Angeles triathlon and is only one item on
Joyce’s list of blessings that make her life such
And lest we despair of fleeting
a happy one.
a
Gretchen Smelzer Coffman’s son Nate will
begin as headmaster of the Prairie School in
great opportunity
number
Los
clinical psychologist,
book club, a garden,
Administration Transition team, communications director for the American Battle
Monuments Commission, and a researcher for
a
daughter Alison has recently been appointed
in
a tenure-track position; Alison came
a
daughter, Joanna Sholem, and
and daughter-in-law, Richard and Sigurd
a son
Wendin, and grandchildren: Florence, William,
and Reuben. If you know more,
please write.
Connie leaves a
to
lease on life.” Pamela
Ross
Mahnke, who
lost her husbandof 46 years in March 2013 and
Detroit, but Connie was
Grosse Pointe, though she
to
next
new
retired from her career
we
of us have retired.
has moved from western
Massachusetts to Staunton, VA, so that she can
be closer to extended family, including three
grandchildren; she thought she’d she miss her
rode the train from Poughkeepsie to
Detroit for a vacation. I was
returning home
as
a
book on the women
of the Kuyahoora Valley
for the local historical society.
Suzanne
Midst all thisrejoicing, I received sad
has gotten re-involved with
Getman
I sat
a
close connection with her small
the James River where she writes about
town
on
local
history
and interviews older residents. She
has volunteered for 20 years with the architectural review board (“nevera position beloved by
town”) helping save theFederal/Victorian build-
ings and allow Scottsville to
of her part-time job: reading
as
grow. The best part
to
the youngestkids
librarian.
a
Elizabeth
Cheri
Colby Langdell teaches English at
both East Los Angeles College and National
U. A compilation of her students’ essays on
Kristin
Dickens came
never
ends, hopefully!
Massad
Ratigan, Dixie
Sheridan,
Langlykke, and Ellen Hahn Croog made
a trip out
west
to celebrate their 70th birthand husband Dennis,
days. Sandra Burt Sullivan
riding a tandem bike and pulling a small trailer,
completed the Transamerica bike route, starting out from Astoria, OR, on June 6,2013, and
arriving in Alexandria, VA, Sept. 4,2013. Total
miles ridden: 4,297. Mary Ann Mason, Dianne
2lst
out
in
Sept. 2013, Dickens
and she’s at work
in the
book
of God and mystical poetry.
Cheri credits Vassar for nurturing her love of
literature and writing. Husband Tim works as a
on
Century,
the 99
on
a
new
names
hospital chaplain,
teaches psychology and digi-
tal media at local colleges, and visits children in
hospice. Their own two children are also deeply
Boone
travPhillips Avion, and Gaylyn IMicholl
eled to Williamsburg, VA, for a mini-reunion
academic: Sebastian Langdell ’O6, just finished
his PhD dissertation at Oxford; daughter Rev.
where
they talked about husbands, children,
grandchildren, health-care giving, death, latest
creative and community endeavors, and the state
Melissa
of the world.
for
Campbell-Langdell is priest-in-charge
Church, Oxford, CA.
at
All Saints’
Rhoda
more
Kaufman
Ferris, a resident of Houston
than 30 years, retired from running
her
a
own
market research company and is now
docent at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
HusbandJulian died in 1996, and she often
her sister-in-law, Madeleine
in Houston. Daughter Sara is
trial design
Susie
majoring
at the Art Institute
of
in indus-
Chicago.
Cleland and I met
Harman
Cramer Tupker for
sees
Sherman Ferris, also
champagne
celebrate Anne’s marriage
to
Anne
in London to
Phillip
Harris.Many
Vassar alums attended the September reception;
Anne’s granddaughter Chloe
Grady was flower
girl. They took off the next day for Venice. Susie
minds:
a marriage of true
and I agreed it was
Phillip, his mother, and Anne are all deeply and
professionally immersed in European wines.
of our reunion planSusan Anderson, one
traveled widely in 2013 when her husband
ners,
went
sabbatical: the Virgin Islands, the
on
Mississippi River, Virginia, Vienna, and Cyprus.
Both were
involved in conferences along the
way as they continued to research “machine
ethics.” Susan, who is professor emerita of the
U. of Connecticut, will explain what this is, at
before Reunion.
or
Ruffin and husband Dick
changing public policy and
racial attitudes, a lifelong mission
(my observation, not hers). They attended a conference on
healing racial history at the Initiatives of Change
Center in Caux, Switzerland, and reunited with
Dick’s American Rhodes class in the Lake District.
Both
are
friends hadn’t changed
ed her 10th year
still musical: Dick
as
a
bit.” JoAnn just
president of Ball
start-
State U. in
Muncie, a 22,000-student institution. This caps
off her 40th year in higher education.
Ted Lawson, husband of Irina
Richner
for the last 40 years,
wrote
movingly
passing on Aug. 27, 2013; “(We)
were
always inseparable and a perfect match for
each other. Trina was always a snappy dresser and
her interests were
people, politics, the arts, and
traveling . . . she was always at her best when
interacting with others. She will be sorely missed
by all those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance.” Trina had a valiantthree-year battlewith
after huge careers
in advertising, execucancer
tive recruitment, and retailing. When she tried
to retire from Tiffany’s, she lasted three months
before Tiffany courted her return.
Many Strong
classmates and other friends attended her Sept.
29, 2013, memorial at Marble Collegiate; they
Lawson
of his wife’s
included Susan
Randy Thomsen
still active in
are
bed-and-breakfast in Pisa. “We talked and
laughed and cooked and reminisced as though
46 years had not passed
Italy is gorgeous and
Harbers, Susan
Heath, Neelie
Caminati
Gray, and Stephanie Smith
Kinney.
did not
If your news
appear in this issue,
please don’t despair. Your enthusiasm for staying connected is admirable and valued. We will
succeed in printing your news! You can also
report to the whole class if you join Vassar 66’s
Facebook page.
pays second violin
with the Piedmont
in the Warrenton
Symphony, and Randy sings
Chorale, and also serves as a
senior warden in their local
Episcopal
church.
Son David
master’s in
divinity
graduated with a
67
from Harvard and interns with theFirst Boston
Unitarian Church. Deer and
to raid their
Alison
research
ing for
on
as she’s given up volunteerthe histories of two local Lake
citizens. One of her
fundraiser for Vassar.
Champlain
is
a
April Klimley added
Lala
last
Coleman
a
summer:
time
current
neighbors
few words about losing
“I still have a hard
in a PR luncheon club
believing it. We were
together in New York.” April helped gather classand friends of Lala’s to the Oct. 6, 2013,
mates
memorial service for her in New York, largely
organized by Lala’s niece.
Brill
Both Alice
and husband Jim retired
in 2013. Jim was
CFO of the Mountain West
Conference (NCAA), and Alice was a psychologist in private practice. They have visited
their son in Maine and grandchildren Martin
and Cora, and tracked down Jim’s ancesin Paducah, KY. Evacuated from their
tors
Northern Colorado Springs home in the floods,
they returned with the items they’d packed in
haste, including an inscribed photo of Marilyn
Monroe. Of second marriages, Alice exults:
“We each had long-term
very bad marriages...
nothing like a bad relationship to make one
appreciate a good one, silver linings, I suppose.”
Brava, Alice.
Susan Stein
Burkhard
also surfaced for the
first time (since 1964!) whenshe transferred to
the U. of California. She taught special education
in San Diego and retired to Mammoth Lakes ski
resort
in the Sierras.
JoAnn
Galloway
and Louisa
joined Kathie
(a Massachusetts resident)
(a Montanan!) at Lisa Young’s
Gennaro Gora
Ness
Frank
480.391.3029
sgolston@ncss.org
Kelsey Calfee sent long and newsy lines.
“John and I are still in Middle Tennessee, the
longest we’ve lived in one spot in 45 years. Not
quite retired. In the past couple of years, I have
taken on a wholly unplanned for job as regent
of the largest DAR (Daughters of the American
Revolution) chapter in the state, with over 250
members. With the goals of education, patriotism, and historic preservation, it is the largest
women’s service organization and was founded
in 1890. There are numerous
Vassar connections,
which are neat to discover. The dar.org website
Andrea
is reminded of serious
Vassar
work
Golston
continue
Virginia garden.
Weigel Hain
at
raccoons
Syd (Sydele) Epstein
has lots of info and non-membersmay access
the
genealogical research section, too. I have time to
do this because
four grandchildren and their
parents live far away in Ohio. We spend time
together at a family cottage on Lake Erie in the
our
summer, but don’t
see
them enough. Several class-
extended hospitality
and I love ’em for it: Marcia
this past year
Goldblatt,
Nancy Sahli and Margha McCarthy Davis, and
Cathy Goldman Weinberg, whose suddenpassmates
to
me
Posselt
Brewers, A’s, Padres, Giants, Mariners, and
Rangers, http://cactusleague.com/
“You can
travel to the Grand Canyon,
Sedona, or Canyon de Chelly. Syd’s townhouse
in Flagstaff sleeps eight, if
to ski.
you want
“Hotel suggestions: Splurge: Talking Stick
Hotel and
Spa with casino, adjoining the
Diamondbacks’ spring training site, $239 a night—call 1.480.270.5555. Save: Country Inn and
Suites, close to Syd’s, $l40—call 480.314.1200.
RSVP to Chris Viola, Office of Alumnae/i
Affairs, 845.437.5398 or email chviola@vassar.
edu. Please make your own hotel reservations.”
Co-chairs are Margha McCarthy Davis,
Cynthia Fontayne, Benna Brecher Wilde, and
We will have at least a dozen attendees,
me.
maybe lots more by March.
Barnes Blair has been in intensive
Queenie
of
history
study in the docent program at
the Princeton University Art Museum—very
different from her past 10 years as a guide at
the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “I am going
art
emeritus (in so many ways :-)) this
year andwill
to Philadelphia. I am
stop the crazy commutes
learning about art from Mesoamerica to Fluxus.
The commute
is five minutes! The family is good.
Grandchildren are seven
and four and lovely.
Our
we
and his wife
son
had
a
still in Seattle, and
are
whirlwind end of summer
trip with
sidebar to Vancouver. Our daughter, mother
of said grandchildren, is starting back to work
so I do my share of school pickups to ease
their
schedule. We did travel to Germany, Austria, and
a
Prague in late May. On the one-year anniversary
of Sandy, I celebrate the reopening of Ellis Island
and my new generator. Sandy truly changed the
face of this area and many are still recovering.
Nancy Sahli
voyaged in the fall to western
Sicily, whereshe enjoyed walking with friends and
visits to sites such as
Segesta, Selinunte, and Erice.
A second trip took her to Seattle for a wedding
and a bit of sightseeing in the area.
She continwith assorted volunteer activities, gardening,
ues
”
hiking,
book group,
Last
July,
Karin
husband took
etc.
Petersen
Sheldon and her
small boat
a
trip
up the Inside
Passage from Sitka, Alaska, to Glacier Bay. The
trip was sponsored by the Vassar Alumnae Travel
Office. Kathryn Pennypacker Harrison and her
husband, Bill,
as
were
alums from
a
among the passengers, as well
numberof other Vassar class-
and other colleges. “It
was
an
amazing trip,
breaching humpback whales,
wrestling grizzly bears, soaring bald eagles, and
es
complete
with
magnificent
scenery. I am comforted that such a
wild place still exists!” Daughter Gillian is the
supervising producer (digital) for the Queen
Latifah talk show airing on CBS. Karin had an
in September was
a terrible blow.” Andrea
and John have cousins in Phoenix and she and
other family members are thinking of joining our
opportunity to watch the show being taped at
the Sony Pictures Studio.
Another talented daughter in television:
Tereze
Gluck’s daughter, Abigail Savage, has a
recurring part in the new Netflix series, Orange
March mini-reunion for
Is the New Black. She plays
ing
spring training.
That gives me an opening to repeat the
details of our plans, if you did not see them in
email blast.
an
“A Cactus
League Spring Training MiniReunion out of the cold, into the desert sunshine!
Class of 1967 reunion brunch at Syd Colston’s
house in Scottsdale, AZ, Sunday, March 9,2014.
“Come for the whole weekend to enjoy baseball with the Diamondbacks, Cubs, White Sox,
Reds, Indians, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Dodgers,
of the inmates
one
who works in the kitchen. (Note: Abigail’s part
gets bigger each time—she’s excellent, incredibly
creepy.)
for
me
“I’ve been
getting such a kick out of it! As
jewelry and now shoes.
—I’m still making
All that fancy education and I’m
er!
Building
a
a
house inFire Island.
manual labor-
Hopefully, I’ll
actually get to
day. A little late
occupy it some
in the game, but I’d just as soon
grow decrepit
at the seashore.” Tezzie went
to her 50th high
school reunion in October.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
59
I did, too. Woodmere Academy had only 40
have
graduates in 1963, and horribly, five of them
us
of
the
of
died.
rest
Eighteen
gathered
already
with spousat the Yale Club in Manhattan, some
It was
es.
delightful to see my old high school
boyfriend, now balding but utterly recognizable, with his wife of 40+ years. We wrote two
musical comedies together, predecessors of our
Sophomore Show; our productions led to the
Linnie
Slocum
belief that Sarah
she rest in peace, and Liz Gould
and I could write one for ’67.
Join
us
chez
Syd
Brownell, may
Hemmerdinger
1960 s arising
among scholars and academics.
Roberta is also curating a show of the New
Dee Green
Wilson, Susan
Harrington Butts and
Barrows
husband Tim, Debbie
Loebelson, and
I will celebrate with Carol again this year. (This
Mexico State Fair Portrait Project. Her
is written before the occasion.) We miss Brenda
writing
now
Menlo
next
in
is immersed
Chwastyk Wills
post-retirement book project, a history of
a
the U. of Washington for Arcadia Publishing.
Arcadia has a set format of 200 photographs
with captions of 50-70 words each, requiring
Bello
Lane
Wadsworth
organizations and serve
the board of the
two
lucey.bowen@gmail.com
historic New England Wildflower
Devi,
our
Delhi, responded to
gorgeous photograph of her sun-and-plant-filled
patio. Late October or early November in India
is time for Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Pria
sent Diwali greetings, “Celebrating the light in
all things, everywhere.”
This was heartening, as I’d just returned from
a graveside memorial service in Pampa, TX, and
faced writing you with sad news.
The jazz trio, arranged by Joyce Solomon
Moorman’s
declares that in
Ganson
650.619.3227
classmate in New
with a
my request for news
Karunaker
husband, Wilson,
was
a
highlight
decided
on
Society.
Williams’s oldest horse
Lueloff
retire from show
to
Caroline. In addition
ing, Caroline continues to
not
jumping at 26, but
training and compet-
to
serve
on
both
corporate
and foundation boards. She claims to be wind-
ing down.
Elizabeth
writes that her last hurrah
Hixson
start-up—Avenues: The World School. After
years of teaching early education at Rockefeller
U. and directing the Dalton Middle School, she
is
a
a multilanguage, independent
has helped create
school in Chelsea.
Marilynn Katatsky’s clients are in or near
a shock to
of last June’s reunion. Thus it was
learn from Joyce of Wilson’s untimely passing
in early October.
could not attend Reunion
Claude
Salomon
is a second “kid,” anothretirement, but her news
er Doberman pinscher from rescue.
continues her freelance
Ginger da Silva
because she and Terry traveled
tional
Luxembourg
to bury the ashes of her 98-year-old mother, who
died in late May.
Judith
Putzel’s father died in early September,
five weeks short of his 100th birthday. Judy
“We
wrote:
were
so
to
fortunate that this
a family reunion here while the
good and we could all be outside
and in the lake. He enjoyed teasing great-grandchildren and eating oysters. Truly the celebration
weather
was
of his life occurred before he died.”
Our thoughts are with all of our classmates
as
trainer and course
a
leader for interna-
journalism, in Holland, the Philippines,
Zimbabwe, and Senegal. This work was temporarily interrupted by a fall and broken arm, but
the
has mendedand she’s back
arm
Jane
after
summer
celebrated
we
work
a
mance
her bike!
on
Strong O'Leary returned to Galway
three-week trip, whichincluded a perforof one of her compositions in New York,
and visits
to
Chicago and San Francisco.
piece premieres with the Korean pianist
Another
Ah Ruem
Ahn.
Claude and Terry are retired to Anna Maria
Island, north of Sarasota. At a Vassar Club meet-
isn’t it? Our
is far
history
from over!
South Boston, MA
02127
husband have made the
and
REUNION
laurie.mokriski@gmail.com
Staats
our
histor-
Vassar ’6B isn’t
legal organizations. In 2010, the State Bar awarded her theprestigious Bernard E. Witkin Medal,
which honors attorneys,
judges, and legal scholars
body of work has altered the legal
landscape. She has been repeatedly named one of
the 100 most influentiallawyers in the state by the
legal newspaper Daily Journal. Congratulations,
Beth, on a very distinguished career.
whose lifetime
Other
changes:
of retirement, and/or
news
Connie
Hoffman
Baker
35 years at my law firm, I
am
our
we
have
our
history. We
golden youth, perhaps
even
in
career
emailed: “After
leaving at the end
of the calendaryear. Having decided that I would
flunk retirement, I plan to open a small solo law
practice continuing my specialties of health care
law and independent school law. WhenI started
law 35 years ago, no one
had heard of such a specialty. Now it is in the
headlines daily! This is quite a transition for me
practicing health care
and would welcome advice from others who
have had similar major career
changes. I hope that
solo law practice
provides much more
15-month old granddaughter in Washington, DC. I am
being honored by
HopeWell Cancer Support for 14 years of service
new
visiting
time for
our
the Board of Directors. Hope Well provides
to cancer
patients and their
prime.
delight-
daughter-in-law Ingrid and is the most
am
adorable
still running my
newspaper, which is about to complete
its 12th year, I run
up to NYC as often as I can
to
bonded in
our
am
the birth of my first grandchild,
Helena Catherine Miller, on July 4, 2013, in
NYC. She is the daughter of my son Leland and
announce
weekly
kinds. But
not
quite as close to
I’d like, but the Russian River
they’ve chosen is special.
the
press release. In 2012, she was presented with
Access to Justice Award by Onejustice, a group
that supports a statewide network of nonprofit
had
San Francisco
as
to justice issues—from gender
ing with access
equality in the bench and bar to adequate funding for the judicial branch to providing clear
ethical guidance for judges through the Code of
Judicial Ethics,” according to a California Courts
child in the world. While I
Northern California. She’s
to
retired in December 2012. “Her distinguished
career
has touched on wide-ranging roles deal-
ic 45th reunion. Over the years, we’ve all
successes
and failures, marriages
our
divorces, weight gains and losses, maladies, survivals, hopes, dreams, and trials of all
from Southern
Jay, who “significantly influenced the
justice of California while
serving as the principal attorney to three chief
than 25 years
justices of California over more
of her 33-year career
at the Supreme Court,”
Beth
ed to
617.752.4993
45TH
there in
move
other classmates.
families.” Keep it up, Connie.
Marlene
Siskin
Miller
emailed: “I
A Street
36
In
free support services
Padolf Mokriski
This is my final column before
area
babysit. What a joy!”
Vera
Savin
privileged
to
Schwarcz
publish
a
emailed: “I have been
book of poems,
new
Elizabeth
Klingaman claims semi-retirement, but
writes that she has
just acquired a long-searched
matters.
join us on campus. Nothing else
We remember you and want
you to
be yourself, here with the rest of us. Reunion
Ancestral Intelligence (Antrim House, 2013),
which is getting a nice ‘buzz.’ It is a collection
for spinet and had it restrung. Add to this, her
duties as organist and choirmaster for a local
June 13-15,2014.
I simply cannot
believe we
devastation in away that evokes larger, global
with the fate of traditional art and
concerns
church, and concerts
Although
slouching
into retirement.
with recorder and continue.
she just returned from
a
food,
Sicily,
opera, and symphony-filled vacation in
Roberta Price completed the archiving of her
photographs
60
69
camels in front of
on
Oregon??? Great card, Brenda. If
anyone would like to join us next year, just let
know. Carol would be delighted to welcome
me
pyramids.
on
Laurie
spring 2013, Claude saw Tatiana
and her husband, David. David
was
giving a talk on Afghanistan; Tatiana is a
published wildlife photographer.
Shafer
and her
In other relocations, Catriona
ing
Jacques
be near
my
Impressive,
suffering these losses.
Her VassarClaude also had happier news.
educated stepson, Matthew Parker ’99, married,
with his brother Yaw Agyeman ’93 in attendance.
to
administration of
her first year of retirement she volunteered far
too much. She’s cutting back to focus on sustainable landscaping and therapeutic gardens. She
will, however, manage gardener volunteers for
Park, CA 94025
Bright, who recently moved to Oregon
daughter Laura. Brenda’s new address
Westfahl
card shows her and Terry
summer.
Antoinette
Caroline
Pria
the
son
James
WalkerBoyd ’O9 willbe a law-student witness at
the Guantanamo hearings and is getting married
Janet
68
misconceptions of
great economy in writing.
in March!
Lucey Bowen
145 Campo
about the
WINTER
for Yale’s Beinecke Library. She is
2014
So
come
—
are
so close to the
front pages of the Class Notes section. It was just
yesterday when we
Carol
Reunion,
day
in
Berns
were
Vinick
so we
join her
early November.
last!
come
to
every year for her birthJohnson
Wilcox,
to
modern China’s cultural
ethics. On the home front, we
have been blessed
married, and in
September we welcomed our fifth grandchild,
Ahua Rivka, this being our
daughter Esther’s
first. I still teach at Wesleyan, part-time, and
as
isn’t able to
Leah
that gives voice
well. All
our
children are
developed a new seminar, ‘The History of the
Jewish Experience in China’—the first ever for
undergraduates. Fun!”
Alison
a
Bernstein
philanthropist
at
as
a
was
fascinating and so very enthusiastic about
today’s Vassar students and their commitment to
helping the world. It was affirming and hopeful.
Our son married his partner in September.
There was
not
a dry eye in the house as
our
LBGT classmates and families might
appreciate.
Amazing to think about how far we have
vice
bomb.’ I
see Geraldine (Gerry) Bond
Laybourne,
Henshaw
Cage Ames, Susan
Jones, Judy
Miller, when she is back from Abu Dhabi, and
Linda
Fairstein at
our
VCBC book
club,
which
began after the last reunion. Who knows what
we
willcook up after the next one?”
Margaret (Peggy) Petersen Hotchkiss
we
emailed: “I have
job
a new
in
Saratoga,
ecstatic! I work with schools all over
having a reunion in Maine a week after
reunion, so thatwill work out nicely!”
Virginia (Ginnie) Kozak pointed out on our
Shari
Lehrer
Thurer
and Bob attended the
lovely wedding of Sarah Smith
in Modena, Italy, in September.
Dixon’s
son
Kathleen
Peter,
(Kathy)
and David, from Maryland,
Brylawski Miller
also attended.
Susan
Harrington Butts
emailed: “I went
“The Vassar Classroom Revisited—Art 105”
the Ritz-Carlton at Battery Park. The other
classmates were Andrea
Giannetti
husbandBob; Nancy Fryer Croft
Mort; and Suzan Barnes Thomas.
and
Whitton
and husband
Tim
was
ill
George filled in for him. The
just like we all remembered. Then lunchwas seating by class—on the
14th floor with a spectacular harbor view and
to the terrace.
access
Theyplan to have another
I hope
one —Art 106—in the spring, so
many
more
from our class will be there if they are in the
NYC area.” See the photo on our Facebook
page.
So, dear classmates, I hope to see you all at
Reunion June 13—15. Susan Deßevoise Wright
so
art
my younger
lectures were
and
are
71
Seril
Fifth Avenue, #9A
New
York,
NY
10075
212.988.0707
is
Facebook page: “Did you all note that Geraldine
Bond Laybourne is one of the 25 women
who
could/should be on Twitter’s Board of Directors?”
at
Bobbie
985
212.472.5706 (fax)
Shari
son
great,
Lehrer Thurer
working really
and their committees
hard to organize
a
great event.
Don’t miss it!
to
now
The challenge is the immediacy of the comments;
the lag between me writing this column and you
seeing it in print is bad enough. But by the time
even
a few days pass, comments
be woefully
can
out-of-date. At least you’re communicating, and
greetings are timeless, to wit from Milly Budny:
“After the enthusiasm
preparing for and experi-
encing our 40th reunion, we can now view the
halfway point for our next five-year reunion. Glad
to reach this far; let us hope for more.” Amen.
And also from Rogelio Fernandez-Rojo:
“Hello to everybody from out here in the high
desert of New Mexico on Old Route 66.”
are
also timeless, as he ponders living
world where we all “can create and store so
Musings
in
a
and
images and records and music”
many words
and whatit means
for
{Ed. note: Not
posterity.
that I’m
a
subscriber,
to
our
mind you, but it really will
kin to move
a
case
of
pencil
Sharon
Bradley Vary
16125 QuandaryLoop
Broomfield, CO 80023
sharonbvary7o@yahoo.com
pictures and LPs and books when the Day of
The Day of Vacuuming will
Reckoning comes.
also be a lot easier.)
He also recalled his father’s
strong reaction to
first football game against
Connecticut College. “Because both teams were
completely ad hoc, had no uniforms [and had
a
WSJ story about our
to
‘Vassar fields
Muirhead. Susan says her “commitment to the
values of the 1960 s has not changed despite
on
Hear
treats
thumbdrives instead of truckloads of papers and
Muirhead is bravely surviving
unexpected death of her husband in 2012.
She dealt with her grief in part by publishing
three of Eric’s works, all of which are available on createspace.com, Amazon.com, and
Kindle. On Amazon, there is a video book trailand a short bio of Eric, who sounds like a
er
remarkable, creative man. Look for: Hindu: A
Novel of Expatriate Life in Eastern Malaysia,
Eden’s Abyss, and The Collected Poems ofEric
war
. . . trick-or-treating.
from your classmates, guaranteed
preserve your teeth.
Several of you have weighed in via Facebook.
some
the
I
report that our
but by the time
this, do you suppose it might be . . .
cantering?
Hoping for the best, then let me turn my
Susan Putnam
Texas’s
pleased to
running,
you read
attention to
women.”
recently attended a
Vassar Club of Colorado
play in] ‘shirts and skins,’ the headlineread
topless football team.’
I had an
amazing surprise (Mirabile dictu!)
one
night when MaryLee Hardenbergh ’7O, a
fellow classicist from Avery days, called; she
read
’46.
Bess
well as
”
of my Roman references in a column
and just picked up the phone. She’s based in
Minneapolis and is the artistic director of Global
one
selected as
Reynolds was
the FastCase 50,
a
a
member of
legal publishing company,
as
the Board of Directors of LLAGNY, the
Law Librarians of Greater New
York; she’s also
speaking for professional organizations.
to
Last week, I heard from Jo Citron and
Amy
McCarthy, who
were
watching the American
League championship series together; Amy in
Michigan rooting for the Tigers, Jo in Boston
for the Red Sox.
[Alas, another example of the
necessity of the printed word lagging behind the
immediacy of all instant communication vehicles.]
Regardless of the outcome
of all the games, “[w]e
will still be friends
Vassar ties are deeper than
anything else,” Amy writes.
Echoing that sentiment, Martha Elliott ’73,
writes of a
summer
2013 weeklong
Raymond House reunion on Maine’s Lake
friendship
government is up and
be kinder
Best, Laurie
70
As I write this, I’m
to
the loss of her mother, Mary Lee Lowe
on
Dayton
Damariscotta.
VC
our
to
And that, dear classmates, is all the news
I
have. As you read this think about what you
might contribute about yourself and your world
and your life. Please.
our
flung district as
family
in many ways—now if we could continue
evolve and achieve greater equality in other
areas
of life.
emotional spectrum, I am so very saddened
offer our condolences to Sally Dayton Clement
come
to
WY. I
farthe instructionalfacilitator. I really
enjoy it. I miss being a principal, but I do not
miss the stress! And being home is a wonderful
perk! I am looking forward to our reunion. Our
am
talk about ethics in the Mideast crisis.
He
emailed: “After 14 years as
the Ford Foundation, work-
president, I returned to academe,
first at Spelman College and now at Rutgers. My
daughters, Emma, a lawyer and public defender,
and Julia, an eighth-grade history teacher, are ‘the
ing
and heardthe remarkable professor Robert
event
Brigham
Celebrating 40-plus
with her
Robin
were
years of
Grossman
Bell, Debba
Fawcett, Jenifer Stewart ’7O, and
Housemother-and-Ex-Officio-member-of-35-
different-classes-of-Vassar-alumni, Judy Kohl.
“A
bridge
but
none
tournament
had been planned,
of [us] could remember any of the
conventions or how much to ante into the
pot
because someone
forgot to bring the pot.” And
—
although bad weather mostly kept them inside,
they cooked, read, ate, and, of course, shared
stories about Raymond.
“Like
Billy Pilgrim,” Martha wrote, “they
to slide into a time
past, reliving
moments
as frivolous as toga parties and as
touching as Ben Kohl knocking on Robin’s door,
pretending to be Alec Guinness. [Once again,]
they sat in the Kohls’ living room, laughing
and crying, or hung from the catwalk of Main
watching the eclipse of the sun. They listened
to the lectures of Linda Nochlin ’5l, Lydia
Gasman, Julia McGrew, Ben Kohl, and Tony
‘Folkland’ Wohl. What they learned on this
of spiritual renewal was
magical mystery tour
that Vassar friendships are
‘keepers,’ nonerasable and stronger than Kryptonite.”
And let me add my two cents:
Friends truly
found it easy
are
life’s best souvenirs.
Now back to
seasonal issues. If
only
my
treats
in the form of
you would send me some
to trick
into
news, I repeatedly wouldn’t
thinking
I’m
sharing
tons
try
you
of gossip by using ray
entire word allotment on
adjectives. You’re also
ring my bell to hand-deliveryour
In exchange, I’d gladly fill
your bag with all
of teeth-rotting sweets any time of the year.
welcome
news.
sorts
to
72
Dale
Mezzacappa
dalemezz@aol.com
Betsy McKenny
140
New
Riverside Drive, Apt. 10-L
York,
NY
10024
212.595.8216
betsymckenny@aol.com
Site
Performances, which arranges worldwide
site-specific dances. Most recently, she produced
global water dances for an international group
about water issues.
raising awareness
From the same
geographical region, with
the same
first
name,
but at the other end of the
A potpourri of news
from around the world.
First, this from Mary Berman;
“Nothing much
is happening here in Pohnpei, Micronesia. The
weather stays the same —hot, partly cloudy.
My daughter, a senior at the U.S. Coast Guard
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
61
Academy
in New London, will visit at Christmas
with her fiance, who is
a
junior
at the
academy.
I swim every day at sunset, sing opera when I
swim, and meditate when I swim, too. I still have
small music group (consisting of me on flute
and voice, and an accordionist) that performs
around the island. We will begin weekly perforthe beach next week. We performed
mances
on
a
for the U.S. Ambassador Doria Rosen, a couple
of months ago at a potluck lunch. I am retiring
from my law practice, but still carrying on a few
and taking
cases
(Doria,
tor.
as
only a few new
on
ones.
Spouse
working in
is still
a
education as an administrain
quick search reveals, was sworn
ambassador on Aug. 9, 2012.)
when she was
wrote
Meg Custer
in the Indian
project, reporting that for the past
five summers
she has helped to host a Congress of
the InternationalWomen’s Organization for Total
Knowledge in Holland. The organization brings
from all continents together around the
women
Vedic tradition of India, including transcendental
meditation. Meg has been a teacher of transcenHimalayas on
a
dental meditation for 42 years. “I love these
of
unity in divercongresses with their balance
from enormously different cultures
sity—women
coming together with a common
understanding
anddirect experience of the underlying unity of
life,” she wrote. Meg is based not far from Vassar
at a 400-acre facility in Livingston Manor, NY,
which offers courses
for women
to practice TM.
Meg attended our 40th reunion with Poppy
Cummings Walsh, her friend from Jewett.
“A few months later, Poppy’s freshman roommate Barbara Holdrege ’73 and her husband, Eric
Dahl, joined us at Poppy’s house in Bedford, NY,
for a mini-reunion. We hadn’tseen
40 years,
it
each other for
24-hour feast of nonstop
catching up, punctuated with nice meals and a
so
was
a
good night’s sleep. Barbara, now a professor at
specializing in Veda and Torah,
started out in our class, but graduated with the
class of ’73 after taking a year off to become a
UC SantaBarbara
teacher of transcendental meditation.”
living in the Bay
Area! Life is
board of
good.”
travels.
to report on
Segal also wrote
She went to China last spring. “Best part was a
week in the rural area around the Yulong River,
near
Guilin, and visiting college students who
I
Fran
had stayed with me in Berkeley.”
We send
trustees.
still working
at the
our
condolences.
Philadelphia
Public
School Notebook, writing about urban education and teaching journalism at Swarthmore. I
think I may have mentioned before that I have
done some
acting in community theater. In the
Fargo
fall, I had a blast playing Lady Bracknell, one of
the great comic roles in theater, in Wilde’s The
Importance of Being Earnest.
be working forever!” Said son is a competitive
that the family spends
tennis player, which means
local
vacations at tennis tournaments
in venues
that far off!!
Sandra Battaglia is still
working
at
Wells
am
in corporate trust
in Delaware and
“because I have a son in 10th grade I expect to
and far-flung, including Boca Raton, EL, and St.
college search naturally includes places
where he can play on the tennis team. Husband
Louis. The
Basil is semi-retired but still does fundraising
consulting for nonprofits.
Jordan
continued
In September, Pat James
her annualtradition of celebrating the anniversary
of her 60th birthday with a Central Park dance
Davis
party, attended by, among others, IMora
Day, Yolanda Sabio ’73, Donna Knight ’74, and
As Pat reminds us,
Monica
73
On
one
45th reunion is
our
not
Collins
mymonicacollins@
gmail.com
of those
mid-August
afternoons still
shimmering in memory, I sat on Sarah Conly’s
screened porch in the Berkshires enjoying the
company, the conversation, and the comestihave
bles. Sarah and husband Michael
Deegan
Paula Williams Madison ’74. Daughter Alexa
Juanita Jordan, who started Vassar in September,
full and busy theatrical careers;
Sarah styles and
constructs
costumes, Michael designs sets and
lives in Cushing and is singing and acting in
including Beauty and the Beats
currently presides
various groups,
(Disney
a
cappella),
FWA (Future Waitstaff of
America —musical theater), and Idlewild Theatre
Ensemble (female actors, directors, designers).
“Alexa particularly loves the drama and Latin
departments, and she is happy to be on campus
with senior Martha Lino, the 2010 recipient of
of my
the Juanita James Scholarship in memory
mother. Jack and I miss Alexa, but we love our
NYC dates and
‘empty nest.’
I’m
happily
working on my mother’s scholarship foundation,
maintaining my part-time psychology practice,
participating in professional education conferences, attending church activities, studying Spanish,
and enjoying classes at the gym. Our 45th reunion
our
will be a week after Alexa’s graduation.
looking forward
Jill
Brinnon
Eagerly
to both!”
Bace
writes to
the look and staging of
cramped
apartment.
have flown, and the creative
parents have a Victorian Gothic revival second
home in New York’s Columbia County. There’s
son
and
daughter
plenty of space for gardening, cooking, hosting,
and yes, for designing in a room
big enough for
draft tables with a skylight overhead. And
two
of
course,
there’s
room
for the kids whenever
they visit. Sarah and Michael have spent many
summers
working in the Berkshires’ fabled music
and theatrical venues.
They’re utterly comfortable and happy in this beautiful place.
Classmates, it’s that time of life when we can
Blooston,
enjoy the fruits of our labors. Roselee
of Sarah’s drama department classmates, has
one
resettled in a scenic, special place. Roselee moved
from Montclair, NJ, to Red Hook, NY. “Yes, I’m
Eastern Shore,
still enjoying
are
London after 22 years. They also do a lot of
traveling—2ol3 took them to Hong Kong,
back in Dutchess County. My house overlooks
a spring-fed pond, and is close to the villages of
Rhinebeck and Red Hook. I love it and the area.
the upper ChesterRiver. “The kayaking is great! I also bought a 1972 catboat, which
I sail on Chesapeake Bay.” AAVC can
give you
Singapore, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands (to
visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum), and
the Shetland and Orkney Isles, with plans after
I live close enough to VC that I spent a gorgeous
October Saturday on campus for Community
Day.” Vassar classmates have visited. So has
information—she would love
contact
be in touch with classmates.
Christmas for Vietnam and Cambodia.
Jill has also gone back to school for another
Lois Atkinson “widow of
Wendy
into
this
a
Rosan
smaller house
one
writes that she moved
Costa
on
Maryland
on
Wendy’s
to
Pearl
Waxman, one
of
our
“older” classmates,
“thankVassar for the background I got
in psychology and child development, for I am
wrote
to
still teaching early childhood courses
(adjunct, for
that’swhat I choose to do) at our local commu-
nity college in Cleveland, OH. The children are
still children; the philosophy so well learned at
Vassar is the same;
and the need to spread the
word is even more
important!
”
Bryant retired after 15 years
of teaching English and film to high schoolers in
to the West Coast
WalnutCreek, CA. Her move
Carolyn
and
Hart
teaching followed a publishing career in New
York. Her husband, Tanning, also planned for
retirement in 2013. Her son, Jameson, 25, has
made his home and career
as a graphic designer
in SanFrancisco. Daughter Allison, 23, graduated
from Sonoma State U., and went to Thailand to
teach English. “She is our world traveler, having
spent her junior year in Sweden and traveling to
16 different countries.” Carolyn and Tanning
also do a lot of traveling, including to Quebec
and husband Edward
say that she
life in
over
ABC’s The View. Sarah and Michael raised two
NYC
Now their
children in a
MA—this time in
garden history. She is writing her dissertation on the 17th-century gardens
of Cardinal Richelieu, which is taking her back
and forth to France to do research in the Paris
archives. She lectures at the Wallace Collection,
and this year had visits from James
Berry, Polly
Eide ’7l, and Ginger Wallace Irby ’73.
Katrin
Belenky Peck also continues
horizons
to
explore
actress, director, and arts
management adviser. In Oct. 2013, she debuted as
a director of a show she created called Broadway
new
as
an
Memories: A Musical Revue. “We had 25 cast
our
favorite
profes-
Clint.” Roselee plans “to begin teaching T’ai
Chi Chih, a form of qigong, and to pursue publisor,
cation of Dying in Dubai,
a Memoir of Marriage,
Mourning and the Middle East, whichI have been
working on for the past five years.”
Yolanda
Sabio
helps
those of
us
who
hope
retire with fiscal grace. Yolanda reports she
started a “new career
as
a financial planner
to
with New York Life Insurance Co., specializing
in
employee benefits, rollovers, and long-term
planning.” Though based in sunny southern
California, Yolanda works for clients throughout
the U.S. She enjoys spending quality West
care
members at the OsherLifelong Learning Institute
Theater World program at UC San Diego, singing
and dancing to a
variety of memorable Broadway
Coast time “with my two
numbers. Maybe I will take this talented
ble on the road!”
Sklar
after a
moves
on
Stephanie Cadiff
divorce in 2011. She has a “wonderful new man
in my life” and a challenging position at the U. of
Sad
to
report
Dammerman’s
that
Marsha
husband, Dennis,
executive at GE who retired
as
ensem-
Finn
a
longtime
its chief finan-
cial officer, died in July 2013 at the age of 67.
Dennis and Marsha have been
generous donors
grandsons, Noah
and
Aaron, and, of course,
Adegbile
my daughter Tamar Tate
’95 and hubby Isaac.”
Arizona Institute of the Environment
development.
“Most of our
how humans and
as
work centers
director of
around
species will adapt to climate
change.” Stephanie’s oldest son, Adam, married
in pharmaceutical sales.
“They live in Tucson, and
grand-cat, and a grandhorse.” Stephanie’s daughter, Kate, a Tufts grad,
lives in NYC and works in beauty marketing
and branding.
I have two
grand-dogs,
Former class
a
correspondent
back from Malta with an
bucketlist. She had
made all the sweeter
a
Carrie Bryan is
item crossed off her
wonderful time, a sojourn
with a visit to relatives in
Germany. Indeed, she has a date to
and uncle’s 60th anniversary
aunt
wants
to go
back “as
soon
return
to
her
party, but she
it doesn’t take two
as
on
Buttles
a
plane
Mclntire
When not
in Maine, Martha lives in
Southern California. She finished a book
that is
being published by Penguin, about a
10-year conversation with a serial killer on
death
row
in Connecticut. It’s called The Man
in the Monster.
Says Martha,
“I
now
write a novel I’ve had in mind for
want
some
to
time.”
The Damariscotta Damsels ?
get there.”
The great state of Maine with its wisely brilliant motto, “The Way Life Should Be,” was
the
setting for off-campus Vassar reunions. Suzy
days
Tony ‘Folkland’Wohl. What we learned on this
magical mystery tour of spiritual renewal is that
Vassar friendships are keepers, non-erasableand
stronger than kryptonite.”
to
saw
Elizabeth
(Fluffy) May in
September. According to Suzy, Fluffy “now goes
by Lizzie. She still rides and sails and has built a
beautiful house by the water.” It was
a thrill to
hear from
Suzy, who grew up with Larry Pistell
(Trinity ’73) whom I datedwhile at Vassar with
many legendary road trips betweenPoughkeepsie
and Hartford. Suzy reports she is “having fun
in retirement,” particularly because she made a
discovery of a small pterosaur jaw while preparing rock as a volunteer at the Smithsonian. Suzy’s
“find” was slated to be presented at a paleontology conference in Los Angeles. “We’re pretty
excited, because it may turn out to be a new
species and one of only two Triassic pterosaurs
74
Vassar’s first coed
class! Landmark 40th Reunion Countdown,
rock
June 13-15. Amazing grace that moon
at Neil Armstrong’s Air & Space Museum in
his hometown, Wapakoneta, OH, off 1-75,
perhaps for his Apollo 11
flight? Spent my milestone birthday with family
Exit 111. Numbered
there. Oh, the history inside! Armstrong’s
his 159 lb. frame.
on
spacesuit worn
190 lb.
Maria
Mitchell’s lunar crater, named for America’s first
female astronomer
and Vassar’s first faculty hire.
like growing up in a space
family
Cleveland NASA Glenn rocket scientist’s
daughter, part of my tribute to America’s first
a
happy email reunion. Ruth lives in the hip, hot,
cool city of Portland, ME, where she teaches
English as a second language in an elementary
female astronaut
Sally Ride in Cleveland
Plain Dealer's Sunday Forum (7-29-12), six days
after she made her final exit into the great beyond.
school. Says Ruth: “Yes, gainfully employed,
less! I bit the bullet and went
no
A year later, Gravity
(2013) by Alfonso and Jonas
Cuaron ’OS, starring George Clooney and Sandra
back to graduate school for
Jenifer Stewart ’7O, Robin Grossman Bell ’7l,
Debba Fawcett ’7l, housemother and ex officio member of 35 different classes of Vassar
Bullock, schooled for her role by astronaut
Cady
Coleman phoning from
space.
We were
high school juniors when Apollo 11
Commander Armstrong, made one small
step
for man, a giant leap for mankind July 20,1969.
My niece Jacqueline, Bryn Mawr ’ls, born July
20,1993; her NASA grandfather (my dad) up in
heaven so proud. Dad still on Earthwhengrandson
Joe was born on Armstrong’s 60th birthday,
Aug. 5,1990. Joe, a singer, songwriter, composer.
Christmastime 1972. We were college juniors
when Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan
and the first geologist-astronaut to moonwalk,
Harrison Schmitt, became the last to do it.
Summering in Santa Fe, geologists Michael and
alumni, Judy Kohl,
Marsha
with benefits
in education. It
was
a
two-year master’s
intense and I
thought I was
delighted to be
I am
crazy at times, but now
in the classroom working with kids from all
the world.” Ruth keeps ties with her high
over
school and Vassar BFF (and
Kilbourn
new
grandma) Dana
Fairbank.
A Maine gathering of the Vassar clan was
for the Raymond gang. Martha
sweet
Elliott, who hosted the group, provides vivid
than 40 years
reportage: “Celebrating more
of friendship, Raymond House graduates
especially
spent a week together on
Lake Damariscotta in Maine July 20-27,2013.
“It is the lake where I have gone almost
of my life and not too far from
summer
every
Falmouth where Jenifer lives. Although a
had been planned, none
bridge tournament
of
could remember any of the conventions or
how much we had to ante into the pot (because
us
forgot to bring the pot). With the
exception of occasional swims and kayaking,
someone
columns.
Repeating the past? Robert Redford/
Mia Farrow’s The Great Gatsby our
graduation
year, Leonardo DiCaprio’s in 2013.
Tom
Bruce
Wallin,
Tranen, Max Mason ’75,
reprised their cross-country bicycle trip from
Poughkeepsie westward 40 years later. Tom:
“No campfires or sleeping on the beach as in ’72.
Great re-living an old adventure.”
Wild Bear Adventures, Barbara
Ulrich
O'Grady’s guide business, gives Yellowstone Park
Barbara
met
up
Jeff Walker’s “Civilization and
Volcanoes” freshmen on a fall break trip. “What
are
parietals? The Juliet? Pizzatown?” they asked.
Don’t forget Dirty Muthas, WhiteLightnin’, and
disappearing mugs. Brett Singer recalls motorand friends.
cycle streaking with Jack Weiss
Love Story, Yale Professor Erich Segal’s
bestseller freshman year. Our fifth reunion,
Wancy Freedman, Steve Peters reconnected.
Thirtysomething years later, Mount Sinai medical student son Alex’s attending hisfifth Princeton
reunion. Seattle son
David
McKinsey; Dallas
at
daughter Diana dancing herdream at Texas Ballet
Theater. Our 25th reunion. Friday night. Lawyer
Dai Rosenblum:
“Becky and I are at the tent. Rick
Teller askswho she is.
I present
Becky with a
and ask her
Getting down on one knee,
SIOO bill folded into a ring
She says yes. I get
up
marry me.
to
and tell
Teller, she’s my fiancee.”
Popcorn Saturday nights. Only a handful of
channels. Huddling ’round the dorm TV. The
Mary Tyler Moore Show's theme song, “Love Is
All Around.” Married at Sunset Lake, Marsha
Bourque’s 34th anniversary is Saturday of
Reunion weekend; so is Mary Hinkley Spencer’s
40th! Mark/Betsy Angevine’s 40th, May
25. Happily married to Linda, Peter
Blum’s
10th, last July 27. Piano Man Billy Joel, dining
nearby as Lou/Holly Pinto Savinetti last May,
observed their 30th Pearl Anniversary and Alice/
Lou, Senior’s Diamond 60th
Norwich,
at
NY. Holly/Lou second
in Vermont. Buried at
Luce in East
honeymooning
Old First Church of
Bennington, JFK’s Inauguration Day poet, Robert
Frost. His gravestone: I had
WITH
THE
A lover’s quarrel
WORLD.
Novelist
Linda
Morganstein; “Proud of
Findlay Bourque run into Sen. Schmitt
(R-NM). Marsha’s dad, Joseph Findlay, helped
assemble the Apollo 11 lunar excursion module.
Who knew the dozen who ever moonwalked
Minnesota, my adopted state, for legalizing gay
marriage.” Married 20-year partner, Melanie
Jaeb, 8-23-13. Pearl Hogrefe Fiction Fellow at
would
Jane Smiley ’7l.
The Trip to Tahiti with Vassar Alumnae/i
only be during the Nixon years?
Mary McCarthy’s class of 1933. Their 40th
reunion after our
junior year. Shot in Main’s
Rose Parlor, CBC’s The Vassar Girl 1933-1974,
had the literary lioness throwing Vietnam,
Watergate questions at Kim Landsman, Sarah
an
overabundanceof inclement weather kept
us
inside reading, cooking, and eating. We
relived moments
as
frivolous as toga parties
Sylvester, Mary Wissenson, Laurence
Weber.
Vietnam vet Larry played freed POW #2,
rescued by Gene Hackman in Uncommon Valor
and
(1983); technicaladvisor/research screen credit,
Filmed in Thailand, where Larry’s now
too.
teaching elementary school and “living my life
touching as Ben Kohl knocking on Robin’s
door, pretending to be Alec Guinness. We sat in
theKohls’ Raymond House living room,
laughing and crying, or we hung from the catwalk
of Main watching the eclipse of the sun.
We
listened to the lectures of Linda Nochlin Palmer,
news
with Professor
Happy Valentine’s Day,
What it was
encouraging us to see Bishop’s Sesquicentennial
exhibit at Thompson Library and silent movies of
Trustee FDR’s Vassar visits, First Lady Eleanor’s
visitors the geology/ecology tour.
lonna2@msn.com
REUNION
as
a
Saunders
40TH
in the U.5.,” she writes.
Another “you go girl!” is Ruth
Freeman.
Meeting up with former Strong-mate Ruth was
Lonna
815.505.2215
after U.S. Poet Laureate Elizabeth Bishop ’34.
Thanks to Alumnae/i Affairs John
Mihaly
Wash
in semesters.”
According
lowa State U., Linda studied with Pulitzer Prizer
Travel.
Richard
Roberts
and his wife
nation’s capital! A federal district court
chief judge, too, Hon. Vicki
Miles-LaGrange,
inducted into Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame 11-7our
13, joining Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench,
Chenoweth, Maria Tallchief, Will
Rogers. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Sony
Kristin
Pictures Worldwide Publicity Senior VP Fritz
Friedman
Vanity Fair's “Vassar
Unzipped,” saluting The Group's 50th anniverto
Hon.
celebrated their Silver 25th. As of 7-16-13,
chief judge of the federal district court
in
to
a
three-year
term
on
CalArts.
Their Silver 25th, too, spouse Jeff Krebs,
chosen as a top doc by San Diego Magazine.
to Bountiful Cecily Tyson’s first
Tony at age 88. So moved seeing
a
her at Broadway’s Sondheim Theatre, I wrote
Huffmgton Post piece praising her. Our junior
The
Trip
,
Best Actress
year,
Best Actress Oscar nomination for
Sounder,
Tyson’s only one. Thirty years later, Cleveland’s
Halle Berry, the first African-American to win
Best Actress for Monster’s Ball. With Cleveland
Linda
Heinzman
(Lee Heinz),
MFA, Academy of Classical Acting, GWU
(2013); accepting students for audition coaching. Credits: Guiding Light (CBS), Peter Pan’s
roots, too, actress
Tiger Lily on Broadway. Tennessee Williams’
The Case of the Crushed Petunias last November.
Danced with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham’s
Canadian company.
Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom (HBO) is
Vassar all the time. Jane Fonda ’59, Hope Davis
of Jacqueline
Bouvier Kennedy Onassis ’sl and Grace
Gummer ’OB, daughter of Meryl Streep ’7l
and sister of Louisa Gummer ’l3. How many
times did Grace mention Vassar in the episode
’B6, Kick Kennedy,
grand-niece
“UnintendedConsequences”? Best line? “Fm
to Vassar,” she whispers,
your rebound. I went
melting his heart. Fonda’s first Oscar for Klute
(1971), noted on mixer posters sent to Yale,
Princeton. Knowing their way around real-life
Consuela
newsrooms:
Laurie
Paula
Golden,
Pauli, Jay Severin,
Williams
Peter
Lonna
Sleight,
Saunders,
Don Imus’
Madison.
Rutgers
remarks about women
basketball players prompted Paula’s purchase of WNBA’s L.A. Sparks.
Vassar women’s basketball, first national ranking: 25th spot, Div. 11l Top 25 Coaches Poll!
The Educated Woman
cartoons
(1960) by
Anne Cleveland ’37 and Jean Anderson ’33.
murals, Jean’s paintings adorn Alumnae
walls, says Lehman Loeb Director James
Mundy. Russian Studies major Olga Pastuchiv,
her 74-ft. long butterflies mural, encircles
Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, ME.
She’s authored Minas and the Fish (Houghton
Mifflin 1997); illustratedchildren’s ecology book,
Riparia’s River (Tilbury House 2011), bilingual
French/English fables (Blackwidow Press 2014).
Art Department Chair Molly IMesbit: “See
the Art Library’s restored 1937 design. New
Anne’s
House
studies and architectural
programs in museum
design. Meet the younger versions of ourselves,
giving plenty of evidence the humanities take
minds, then and now, toward better futures.”
Maidens
Attorney Melinda
visiting the windy city,
“I drooled
over
works at
thanks to my taking
Chicago’s Art Institute,
art
seven
Nephew Joshua,
courses
at Vassar.”
Pratt ’l3, filmed PBS
National Christmas Tree
Lighting of a living
31-ft. Colorado blue spruce for sponsor UL,
12-6-13. At IBM since
graduation,
Barbara
Neumann
often walks Vassar’s arboretum-
designated
campus,
boasting
230 tree
species.
Columbus Day, 675 town/gown attendees
enjoyed “A Day at Vassar.” Professor Emeritus
Glen Johnson’s, “Incredible India: Perils of
Riding the Tiger.” Taking his Comparative
Foreign Policy course
my sophomore year, a
treasure.
Stephen Rae, combining words/pics
on
his decade-long relationship with the India
he fell for in the ’7os, welcomes feedback at
www.lostworldindia.com; studied comparative
religion at Harvard, Banaras Hindu U. Second
career
making fine prints. Steve’s written for
Playboy, NYT Sunday Magazine-, contributing
editor American Elle, British GQ. Manhattan
64
WINTER
2014
freelancer Rae crosses
paths with Stephen
of NYT Sunday Styles Section.
Drucker, creator
Drucker’s worked for Martha Stewart, Barnard
classmate of Erica Jong, Twyla Tharp. Martha
Stewart Living, House
Beautiful,
First in Dixon, IL, around the
corner
from
Reagan’s boyhood home on 10-4-98,
brother Jack’s birthday. On vacation years
my
Six
ago, Carolyn visited Nancy’s bookshop.
degrees of Kevin Bacon? Footloose Bacon and
wife Kyra Sedgwick, Vassar Powerhouse Theater
alums.Their charity, sixdegrees.org.
“Neither my guitar nor
I have missed a
reunion yet,” says Andrew
Sherman, proud firstPresident
time
grandfather of Nava Shira
born 10-19-13.
Cleinman, first-time grandma of Mairin,
Golonka
12-1-13. Also returning, Boston’s Alice
Denn, proud parent of Alison ’l2 and Emily ’l4,
Carrie
Palo Alto chiropractor Mary Ann Furda, Mari
Rios
Candelore
at Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation after
a
lifelong
career
at
Merck,
Booth, Moody’s Investors
Del Casino, whose job takes
Service VP Jeanne
her to Latin America. Tangoing in, bringing their
retired investor
Alan
Rothman,
dancing shoes, Manhattan’s Robert
Virginia’s Robert/Helen Gettys Michie. Bringing
Carpenter Osayim
daughter Injy ’OS, Brenda
hopes to see Anne Erwin
Bishop, new trustDebra
ee
Fagel Treyz. Getting her Fine &
Performing Arts dance degree through a veterans’
retraining program, Brenda’s “looking forward
to showing off the body at Reunion!”
“Know what I’m after / She’s a girl at Vassar,”
from Indelibly, Stephen Funk Pearson’s new
autobiographical YouTube ballad. Grammywinner Steve Martin’s bluegrass musical Bright
Star’s PowerhouseTheater debut, hyped in USA
Today’s “All the Country’s a Stage This Summer”
(7-8-13). Come to Reunion; stick around for
their season.
Gross’ House of
Bring along Michael
Outrageous Fortune (Atria Books, 2014),
tale about the world’s most
true
powerful address, 15 Central Park West. American
Library Association: ’’Deliciously detailed. How
a
the 0.1 percent live.” Its March 11th release, my
plastic surgeon brother’s birthday. Gifting it to
him and Michael’s Model: The Ugly Business of
Beautiful Women. Upcoming sequel, Girls on
Film, stories of the fashion photogs who take
their pics. Smile!
Nobel laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer's grandniece, novelist Brett Singer, remembers mentor/
friend Dean Elizabeth Daniels ’4l for her many
kindnesses. Betty passed away 1-28-14. Mother
and widow, Brett's taught at Vassar, Stanford,
Penn State, American U., Miami U.
Touched by an Angel’s Roma Downey and
husband Mark Burnett’s sequel, AD: Beyond
the Bible (NBC), reminds us of the admonition not to neglect hospitality.
have unknowingly entertained
Angels,
Green
Ladies,
Fellas
Through it, some
angels. Like White
in Flannel. Always
there to greet us, to make our shared Vassar experience the very best in Vassarion’s The Way We
Were, named for Redford/Streisand’s love story.
Is Glamour Dead? Not in
our
class.
75
Town &
Country, Stephen for each editor-in-chief.
Miscellany News Editor-in-Chief Nancy
Borland bought Owl & Turtle Bookshop in
Camden, ME: “Doing something I absolutely
love, surroundedby books and people who love
books, is about as good as it gets!” Carolyn Chin
’Bl and husband Larry Dunphy opened Books
on
Lucy W. Reckseit
Lreckseit@POßox.com
Kudos
to
Annual Fund co-chairs, Sybil
Kent, for all the time and
our
Wailand and Steve
effort they are devoting to make our class stand
The 40th reunion AnnualFund gift is top of
out.
mind for both Sybil and Steve, as is attendance
at Reunion
itself, which promises to be like none
other.... Annual Fund participation is imporuntil
tant, and since all gifts made from now
Reunion count
as part of their effort, they are
urging that there’s no better time to contribute
thanright now;
and, if you’re willing to reach
out to others and help our
effort, please let Sybil
and Steve know
and
(Sybil.wailand@gmail.com
skent@newtrackmedia.com). Now, for a small
world story: One of the companies for which
as general counsel (I fraction my time
I serve
hired a new
CEO from
among three companies)
Boston; and, the new CEO brought in a talented
strategic marketing and branding firm, based in
New York. I was not involved in the marketing
and branding project, but I was participating
in the company’s board meeting at which the
firm was
to present remotely to the board its
recommendations for the company’s branding. The CEO introduced the firm’s principals,
who were
on
speakerphone from New York,
and she introduced one of the two principals as
Sybil Wailand! It was one of those life-affirming
when we realize how large and small
moments
the world really is.
From time to
time, I hear from
someone
with whom I’d relish
spending hours, with
collapse the nearly 40 years
whom I’d love
to
that have flown
by. Deborah Cox-Johnson and I
occasionally. She and her husband,
Anthony, live on a farm in Howard Lake, MN.
Sounds idyllic, huh? Deb adopts shelter animals
have emailed
.. . lots of cats! She writes that she is “a bit of
an
astrologer and a
amateur
buff,
so
I’ve read
a
bit of an
fair amount
astrology
sometimes of
what thereal astrologers are talking about—and
as an
explanation for life in this world today,
they say that we
are
in
a
time
period
very
simi-
the cultural upheaval of the 19605. . . .
There are a lot of things going on in the sky that
scream
‘replay.’ The good news is that they also
lar to
predict
a
re-humanizing focus
which could
never
come
too
in
soon
world,
our
as
far
as
I
concerned.”
am
There
are
than a few emails I received
VQ, that I reserved
more
for the last issue of the
for this issue, primarily due to the word limit
imposed by the VQ. With genuine apologies
for the delay, here are notes from a few patient
Foote
classmates: David
and wife Diana
Maychick ’76 moved back to Connecticut
from Florida several months ago. I have been
trying to coax an update from David, but have
become content
with what I
can
glean from
his daughter Hayley’s Facebook page! Last
Nancy Margolin worked at a summer
summer,
near
Middlebury,
camp on Lake Dunmore,
VT.
Among
Vassar ties:
and
one
a
the staff
2013
entering
were
three others with
graduate, a
current
the class of 2017
student,
...
all
young women, and Nancy enjoyed
the intergenerational connections. Back in
amazing
Anne
Jackson, a textile artist, had just
returned from Sweden and the Netherlands,
June,
where her work
was
being featured in two
different international exhibitions (www
.annejackson.co.uk). And her band, The
Swamp Gods, had just released a new minialbum titled Space Junk, through iTunes and
Amazon. One of the tracks on the mini-album,
“Monotonoid,” features Deb Seaman’s pet
Catalina
macaw
on
guest vocals. Anne says
that when she visited Deb
“the
was
colorful,
of
proprietor
years ago, Deb
number of large,
two
a
and characterful
birds; her home
is
like a
tropical paradise with amazing specimens,
answered
often on the loose.” Bob Machinist
my plea for
just
an
If I had read
update.
the Class Notes in the
known that Bob
was
more
than
VQ, I would have
featured in
an
article
who is
a
daughter Alexandra (33),
partner at
Janklow and Nesbitt, son James (VC ’O6), who
is in business with Bob, son
Georg (VC ’O9),
who has a firm raising money for hedge funds,
and son Peter, who is a college junior. Bob is
remarried to Diane Nabatoff, a film and TV
producer who most recently produced the film
at the Tribeca Film
Festival. Fie wrote
that, for fun, he had just
completed the Motogiro d’ltalia, a seven-day
vintage motorcycle race around Italy (1,600
kilometers). He was about to have dinner with
Steve Kent and he also
Stuart
saw
Lipton in San
July 26, 2013, for the showing
of
in
Jaffa at the San Francisco Film
Dancing
on
Festival. Alice
Linder
is still medical director
of Astor Services for Children & Families. She
and her husband, a sculptor, have two children:
a
son
who is
a
sophomore
in
college
and
a
daughter, finishing up her nurse
practitioner
degree. They live in the mid-Hudson Valley,
and, back in June 2013 when she wrote to me,
they had just returned from three weeks in
France and Germany and were
being overrun
with cicadas. Richard
N. Cohen
has also waited
patiently for publication in this column of some
In litigation against Extell
amazing news.
Development Co., one of NYC’s most active
developers, he represented 31 would-be buyers
of condominiums in The Rushmore, NYC’s
in midtown. He
most
expensive condo tower
able to obtain for his clients the largest
was
escrow
deposit return ever awarded by the New
York State Attorney General’s Office. After
almost four years and appearances in front of
the attorney general’s office, and, subsequently,
courts
(two federal and two New York
four
State courts), and ten
different judges, at
the end of 2012, Extell finally returned the
down payments totaling more
than
sls million. Emily Greenspan Kelting has
buyers’
re-upped her writing
career.
She writes
a
wonderful intermittent newsletter, and, for
those of you who do not receive it (yet), I am
quoting Emily’s latest edition, in which she says,
“I’m
now
a
contributor to
the Huffington Post,
for Change, NYCityWoman,
so very happy to
be back writing, which was my focus, in fact—so
thankfulto
my life—during my 20s. I am
Women’s Voices
and New Canaan Patch, and
have reunited with my very first editor at New
York Magazine, Deborah Harkins.” There’s
nothing more rewarding than self-actualization
in mid-life!
1361
Madison
Avenue
New York, NY
10128
Salve! We crunched and the numbers are in: of
the 54 percent who responded, 45 percent love
Vassar and wish they
right
in
were
quantum physics
36 percent have sneakers older than
now,
their boss, 9 percent get no kick from champagne,
27 percent were
on
level 108 of Candy Crush/
have no
life/are miserable and wretched, and
a
72 percent believe there is no other.
True to the Vassar spirit, many of you wrote
staggering
lovely updates for
credit. Thank you.
claimed she got
kick from the champagne, but bless her for
extra
U.S. General Services Administration for
more
McArtin
than 20 years, the past 11 years in Chicago. They
plan to retire to their Fort Lauderdale home in a
trying at son Andrew’swedding in Poughkeepsie
on
Sept. 20, 2013. After-party at The Dubliner,
formerly Dickens, on MainStreet in Arlington,
just off Raymond. Sharon queries: “What the
few years. “Retirement! Who woulda thunkit?”
Timed perfectly for the nuclear threat, Wane
no
heck
Abarno
partner in the Eckert Seamans Cherin
a
Mellott, EEC law firm. Chuck (don’t-call-meCharles) has written a bimonthly column in the
Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer for 12 years.
Since 1990, he has been a visiting lecturer in the
Department of Legal Studies and Business Ethics
of the Wharton School. He also is an adjunct
professor at Villanova Law School where he
teaches dispute resolution. In betweenall things
law, Chuck stays in touch with Vassar friends.
Eric
Miller
married longtime partner Dan
Layman in October 2011, and claims they are
“nowalmost first-class citizens, after the Supreme
Court decision in June.” Eric has been an attorney with the Office of Inspector General at the
&
sherry,nemmers@gmail.com
Sharon
“The Collectors Car Garage.” My hope is that
the article. Bob has four children:
saw
Francisco
76
on
others
Dancing in Jaffa , which was
and is
Sherry Nemmers
this bar/restaurant called in 1976?
was
barely
ever
got
Danelle
beyond Pizza town
...”
has been a National Park
Simonelli
Service ranger for the past 17 years at the Ellis
Island Immigration Museum and the Statue of
Liberty,
where she
gives
exhibits,
and helps out
visitors. After Hurricane Sandy’s storm
2012, the
in 2013; happily, “the
surge in
only
nuclear bomb
experi-
the red hot pepper in food.” Daughter
Maxine at Brown, a budding journalist. Twin
sister Margaux at Bates, went
to NCAA women’s
rowing championship, placed second in her divienced was
nationally.
sion
tours, creates
leads interactive student programs,
visited the Philippines and South Korea
Joselow
Jane
issue
more
Calem
Rosen
“wrote
ago and doesn’t want
two
or
something an
to brag any
about my children, ha-ha.” That’s what
for, Jane.
Renaud
A few milestones from Robert
islands were
closed after suffering major damage. The staff was farmed out to
other national parks; Danelle spent seven months
kids
living in the 18th century in Morristown National
Historical Park, a Revolutionary War site in New
hermother’s
on
Jersey, where she found ancestors
side who fought in the revolution, to go along
the
as
ry and “gulp!” turned 60: Rob serves
vice president and chief information officer at
with the Ellis Island arrivals on her father’s side.
he’s
Danelle went
to
two
back
to
work
at
the Statue of
Liberty when it reopened on July 4, 2013. At
this
awaiting word on Ellis
writing, they were
Island’s reopening. Things are still not back to
normalat either island—staff live out
who celebrated his 20th
Dickinson
in
McMillan
is happy to be back
mentor, Karen
in Chelsea, NYC. Grateful for a “virtual” life-
nursing
College
wedding
and takes
care
anniversa-
of
mom,
92,
home in Ottawa, Canada. Now feels
1-81 north from
Pennsylvania
developed “a
deep fear of lake effect snow.” Rob and Jennifer
spend “all of their discretionary income” on their
an
expert
on
the Canadian border, but has
1923 home.
of trailers
instead of offices—but the important things have
stayed high and dry, and they carry on.
Aka the retreat
muse,
leadership and retreat
are
“Still 4-ft.-10 and
Brown
starts
an
eccentric,” Pamela
accelerated nursing program in
January—66 credits in
11.5 months. Recently
great guy who’s teaching her to
hunt, fish, ski faster, Pamela lives in Aurora, CO
(which Wallace Stegner described as Denver’s
remarried
to
a
style, she continues her coaching business,
explores uptown with daughter at Barnard,
visits the Vassar Haiti project, and frequents the
ringworm suburbs), with a view of the mountains, but plans to retire to someplace wilder and
Vassar Club.
with
JoAnn
Klimschot
Symons celebrated daughCaroline’s VC graduation last May, and claims
the place looks even better. JoAnn wants to hear
Do we have to Google you,
from Ingrid Kollist.
Tracy Lewis-Todd.
Now that
Ingrid?
“Special student” Gail
grated
ter
Vassar,
work,
went
now
students at
book she
Gardner
loves
to Harvard in 1980 for graduate
teaching (at 75) undergrads and grad
Harvard Extension School, to “repay
VC.” Gail’s been
and
years,
school for
Cook
a
TA and guest lecturerfor 12
prior to that, taught at an independent
girls until 2000. Hoping to publish the
whenshe retires “maybe next
wrote
year.” Gail says her grown children are wonders.
Manfrey Vogelstein
Campaign Chair Barbara
be seen co-starring with fellow VC luminaries
can
in We Did It, a video celebrating the outstandof Vassar 150: World Changing
ing success
campaign, to the tune of $430 million.
Focusing his practice on commercial and
business disputes, an experienced mediator and
arbitrator, Chuck Forer lives in Wynnewood, PA,
closer
the
to
two
line. Claims
tree
a
far-too-short visit
fabulous people, Jenny Clark ’75 and
Caroline
Bernstein
Vanderlip’s
company has entered the academic world
intewith a product that dynamically creates
materials as e-books or physical
course
books—AcademicPub.com—she has a whole
different appreciation for the wheels of change
within higher ed, Vassar included. Beyond work-
ing with 5,000 professors in North America on
AcademicPub, she’s busy wondering how her
became old enough for a bar mitzvah and is
still reveling in a two-week trip with the whole
son
family
on
safari
to
Botswana and South Africa
months ago.
Announcing the release of herfourth (and first
self-published) book, Unwritten Rules, Alison
did every bit of it herself, from
Weary Henderson
to formatting it for e-book
designing the cover
and print. Quite an adventure!
Berhon
Meanwhile, Lori Seltzer
(aka Merle
Darling) has released her third novel, The Upsilon
Knot. Merle has been living in the imaginary 19th
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
65
the
of seven,
reinforced by a
century since
age
four-year stint at a I 9th-century college, with
ivied walls and afternoon tea in dorm parlors.
“Much of this book was written on the train to
work; having never successfully kept a diary, she
had
I
nothing sensational to read.”
Hoping to catch a glimpse of Maggie Smith,
hopped a plane on 9.9.13, toured Highclere
Castle
9.10, and returned
on
to NYC on
of you don’t write in. Threats. I knew it
would come
to this.
more
Jodi
77
NW
32nd
Boca
Raton, FL33496
Terrace
McPherson
Vassar
College
numerous
years, I
am
via its art
history
extension program offered to
returning to
alumni in DC this month (November) at The
Willard, where else. Having been awardedthree
advanced degrees, including a JD, I must confess
that my year
studying art history at
difficult
most
VC
was
some
historians in the
porting its rigorous
me —again!!”
of the most
a
volunteers to host or organize these gatherings.
The minis can be as mini as a dinner or brunch or
as maxi as a full weekend of activities. The critical
issue is
up to
have events
the country, leading
the 40th. Rachel and I could be calling you,
to
across
so get ready before the phone rings!
“We want
to cluster these mini-reunions with
the classes around ours, and we don’t seem to
Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia,
San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, DC—to
invited!! They are lookname
a bunch. We are
ing for a representative from each class to help
coordinate a two-hour party. If interested, let me
know at tkaczmar@jbsltd.net, and I will forward
the class of ’75 prez. Thanks
your information to
so
much!”
U. of Political Science and Law in the late 1980 s.
recent
months, Jack also has been to Singapore,
Bhutan, Thailand, and South Korea. Closer to
home, Jack ran into class co-president, Murray
Jolivette, in Washington, DC, at the annual
In
Dupont Circle House
It
was
a
78
pei.wang@acps.kl2.va.us
world; and now for transart history curriculum to
Susan
Whitacre
SusanWhitacre7@gmail.com
was
year for Peter
married in June
Boulder, CO. Peter missed Reunion since it
only a few weeks before the wedding and he
was
busy compiling RSVP cards for the rehearsal
dinner and arranging transportation details for
that it was an incred120 people. Peter recounts
ible weekendand a joyous occasion. In addition,
was
Peter skied with Gary Jaburg last winter, and
looks forward to skiing with him again this
winter.
Virginia
Stanley reports that all
Mason
is well. She is
with “school,
work, church, family, civic activities, writing a
book, establishing a facility to care for elderly
extremely busy,
Americans withoutfamilies to
know,
care
for them...
the usual stuff.”
Whitacre
retired as a director at
Wheels after six rewarding years,
Susan
H. Wang
pei.hsin.wang@gmail.com
son
in
Meals
Pei
tour.
momentous
His oldest
Peterson.
you
outstanding
on
having recruited more than 1,000 compassionate
volunteers, eliminating the waiting list of hungry
homebound seniors, and initiating many enriching programs in the arts and entertainment for
the active seniors to enjoy. One of Susan’s favorites is the annual seniors’ senior prom! Susan’s
retirement lasted all of
Jacqueline Cooper (aka Pat Cooper) and
daughter, Adrianna, in Aug. 2013. Linda still
seven
days, after which
she followed in her family’s footsteps into the
real estate business. “What an exciting market I
stepped into with all the relocations and invest-
committee
works
ment
nonprofit
Pacific Medical Center, on the palliative care
team.
Linda has three daughters: Aza Raskin is
Craig Weinlein
reports: “I am pleased to
elected chairman of the board
report that I was
of directors and chairman of the executive
of The Sedona Conference, a
research and educational institute
dedicated to the advanced study of law and
of anti-trust law, complex
policy in the areas
litigation, and intellectualproperty rights. The
mission of The Sedona Conference is to
the law forward in
move
reasoned and just way by
creating environments for diverse, inclusive,
and civil learning communities to engage in
dialogue, not debate, and achieve consensus
issues
on
is
a
of importance
bar. Our website is
to
the bench and
thesedonaconference.org. It
to
(in addition to my day job),
satisfying way to give back
the legal community. With my best regards
to
our
a
very busy task
but also
a
very
classmates and all members of the
community.”
Slaby Saunders, class correspondent
’74, forwarded to me the following: Jazz vocal-
Vassar
Lonna
ist Barbara
King Phillips,
a
former member
of the Vassar College Choir, performed at the
Smithsonian Institute’s Anacostia Museum in
DC last January. “She brought down the house,
bowled
us
over
and took
us
in every other
delightful direction. What extraordinary looks
like!”
Lauri
66
desirable destination for classmates
who need an excuse
to take a vacation. We need
provide
night with friends eating great food and
listening to fabulous music. “Family gatherings
provide another level of frenzy, and we had a
about
great time making NY snob comments
the quality of bagels in Texas.”
Jack
IMadler
(former class president) flew
directly from our class reunion to Myanmar
(Burma), where he has been advising Myanmar’s
Union Government regarding the liberalization
In November,
of the telecommunications sector.
Jack traveled to Shanghai, China, to attend the
25th reunion of the class he taught at the China
every
the
However, upon reflection, I am most grateful to
have graduated from an institution that ignored
my tears, demanded excellence, and recognized
art
that
landmark 40th. We will be targeting areas
have a strong class representation, and also may
of any academic study.
course
for the graduating
news:
reunion may
still be a few years away, but we’re planning
mini-reunions countrywide, building up to our
New York, Los
writes: “After
Deßerardinis
exciting
Our next
April 29,2014—Matthew Vassar’s birthday—in
arden22B@aol.com
Rosetta
has some
Tammy Kaczmar
“Calling all classmates!
be the only class interested in doing so. Please
note:
The class of ’75 is having cluster minis on
Bornstein
6557
all marveled
artistry. Barbara King’s first CD is entitled Perfect Timing, and she is currently working
on
a second CD. [Editor’s Note: Barbara King
which is why when referring
is her stage name,
Barbara King is used
to her CD, only the name
instead of Barbara King Phillips as listed in the
onlinedirectory and above in this Class Note.]
at her
9.11.
Alas, only the countess was in residence; in jeans,
in her Egyptian tomb. Time traveling back to the
of you presVassar Chapel on 5.6.78, with many
ent when I married Barry; last April, Barry was
struck by a cab on Park Avenue. He broke every
single bone, scared us but good, and amazingly,
survived and is doing well. (Possibly because he’d
been in Burma helping orphans two
days earlier.
Karma.) The marriage ended years ago, but the
friendship is for life, so to speak. Next month,
I’ll have something on my second marriage if
president LaFleur Paysour,
’72 class
Richard Roberts ’74. Jennifer
Jones,
Fitz-Pegado, Marsha Moore ’73, and past
WINTER
says
2014
Linda
a
VP at
Blum
as
had
a nurse
Jawbone;
an
excellent visit with
practitioner
Aviva is
at the
working
California
at a
school
in Houston!” Susan is
referrals. Susan plans
the holidays.
on
As for me,
I
for
while also designing and building costumes
Lamplighters, a local Gilbert and Sullivantheater
troupe; and Aenea will graduate from the U. of
ing elementary
Chicago in June 2014. Linda is enjoying music,
life, and traveling with friends.
Following class reunion, and after having
been
talked about it for the last 30 years, Melissa
finally had what she reports was a lovely
post-reunion dinner with Lee Mandell, Maureen
Green
Passannante, and respective
spouses, at a winery in Westfield, NJ. In sad
news, shortly thereafter, both her dogs passed
away, and her son moved out following a short
bounce back home. As empty nesters, she and her
Monroe,
Marian
husband, Les, rescued a two-year-old Jack Russell
He’s
they named Ozzie “for no special reason.
a good boy and bonded with us
quickly. He’s a
real clown and quite a handful.” In September,
they celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary
and a week later celebrated Les’s 60th birthday
with a trip to New Orleans, Austin, and finally
San Antonio for a family bat mitzvah. The first
a feeding frenzy, and they
two
cities were
spent
to
happy to collaborate
be in New York after
in my third year of teachschool although I still have
am
The best profesmy attorney credentials.
sional experiences I have had in life have
gained through working
with kids.
My
school is Core Knowledge accredited, as well
as
a National School of Character. When I
asked my first graders what they have learned
“Character Counts” lessons,
through our
they told me.
of what
What follows is
they wrote,
a
compilation
and words by which I
also try to live:
I smile at people and they smile back
at me.
I share with others.
I treat others the way I want
to be treated.
I tell the truth when I do something wrong.
I help others.
Before I do something, I ask myself,
“Is it safe?”
I treat
everyone with respect.
I learn
something new
each
day.
honest.
I
am
I
appreciate
my
family,
my
teachers,
my
tative
friends, and my school.
I help others.
I recycle.
How I look is not as important as how I act.
Teachers can learn from their students. There
is wisdom in age
well as from the hearts of the
from both. Please
young. Good luckin profiting
write, take care, and be well! Regards, Pei
as
Kathleen
79
He is
the medical
currently
Balcezak
802.578.6841
nights
time for
and the kids. Peter is
me
in the
hospital
has “fewer
Wash U. in St. Louis, Michael
in
five-year
sophomore
and
a
more
senior at
sophomore
a
MBA at Miami, THE ‘U,’ Nikki
in
high
a
school. Still love to ski and
all my kids have the bug, although two of them
‘board!’ I miss the town-house bunch and others
from school, had a blast at the last big reunion.
. .. Anyone else making it in for June 2014?”
Bruce
Welch, from Texas, writes: “Our oldest,
Andrew, was married in May!... I would really
Williston, VT
Ann
(cell)
kbruces7@gmail.com
35TH
practice.
director at Madonna Perinatal Services and
REUNION
Greetings from frosty Vermont. Our new little
friend, our ruby Cavalier King Charles spaniel,
Scout, is doing great at 13 weeks. She’s a keeper.
Remember Reunion is coming up June 13-15,
2014. We are looking forward to a fruitful 2014
in our family, with several special occasions and
chilsome
great family times ahead, with our
dren, their friends/SOs, and pets. We all have dogs
and at one
now,
point, we will have four dogs
in our house at once, and perhaps four cats! : )
an
executive producer and
television
news,
I
work with my husband
now
summer,
at
now,
at
Bednarz, my roomate
best friend since 1975: “This
my husband, Joe Tevine ’Bl, and I had
pleasure of attending the wedding of Emily
Bruce ’O7, firstborn daughter of James Bruce
Balcezak
’7B and Kathleen
Bruce
(our alumni
correspondent!) and granddaughter of the late
Nancy Collins Bruce ’44 in Chilmark, MA.
Emily wed David Shirley of Coventry, England,
outdoor ceremony at which sisters Martha
and Sally played Bach and Bartok violin duets
under the colors of the Union Jack. (It was sweet
remembrance for Joe and me as James and
in an
wed on the same
Kathleen were
spot years ago
a
(33!!)!) Some highlights of the weekend were
beach bonfire presided over
by the happy couple
and the gathering of friends from far and near
including
medical resident Adam Goldman
Yassen ’O7 and
English Professor
Emeritus
William W. Gifford.”
Lauren
Rolfe
has been
her day job (VP of HR
and is proud to announce
at
a
busy working at
Boston nonprofit)
who is a real estate
Harlem Hospital in NYC and Vassar Brothers
Hospital in Poughkeepsie. I am also involved with
the Brem Foundation, which offers free mammoafford the screenings.
grams for those who cannot
I’m so lucky to have a wonderful life, of which
Vassar was
a part!” I agree, Monica.
From Maria
Moustakas
“I
Fleishman:
moved from Cape Cod after 13 years and came
3,100 miles to Port Townsend, WA. On Aug. 8,1
married Poughkeepsie native Charles Fleishman,
here in PT. We honeymooned in Victoria, BC. I
a new
grandson born July 18 to my son,
George, and his wife, Gudrun (in Iceland). Baby
Nikolas has a six-year-old sister, Alexia. My
daughter, Kristina, husband Richard Jean, and
childrenNektario, 19, Arriano, 13, Marisola, 11,
and Narayana, who will be 3 in October, live on
have
Cape Cod.” Congrats!
Our
own
Noel
H. S. Knille
is the
new
called The Photographed Cat: Picturing HumanFeline Ties, 1890-1940, published by Syracuse
University Press. Over the last decade, Lauren has
share the
of the death of my husband,
Ernie Kemp, who died June 2013. A wonderful
husband and father, we met in 1979 just after
been collecting antique
graduation. Friends Bernice
of people
of the century, which
served as the basis for the book.
Lovely
from Lois
note
Lord-Sharma, my
next-door neighbor in Lathrop for
our
junior
with her daughter Nicole to
year. Lois went
Vassar’s Alumnae/i Sons and Daughters Program
this
past fall. “I always loved fall at Vassar.
Nicole doesn’t really know where she wants to
go yet. We are going to look at John Hopkins.
. . . Vassar is
her list. . . . Can’t believe next
attend
can
year is 35 years—yikes! Hope many
the reunion.”
on
Me, too.
From Nancy Reynolds: “I am
which takes place
number seven,
coast.
the Maine
Next month is National Novel Writing
to
to Reunion, but too
soon
Month. I hope
to
writing novel
on
get
say.”
Bergman, from Huntington, NY,
changed jobs about three years ago to a consulDavid
’l6 from Ann
From Catherine
Kathleen
as
“I’m sorry to
Thenault;
Feuer
Monomakhoff Loree
E. Drew
son
attend Rob Drew’s memorial service. For such
of our
’79
a sad occasion, the sight of so
many
classmates was
quite something. All dressed in
blazers and tie anddresses fluttering in the warm
they paid their final respects by
edge of the cliffs overlooking the
distant islands in Tong Island Sound and singing
our
national anthem. It was quite a gathering.
I certainly felt transported back to our days at
college. Everyone is the same.
Friendly. Funny.
Good-looking. Smart. Kind to each other. Their
Arm in arm,
the
sun.
gathering at
that
last gesture as a group was to make sure
Rob attended their annualPeterson Invitational
Tournament that’s been held every
Croquet
graduated 30+ years ago. As he walked
through his last days on Earth, he certainly knew
that a whole big bunch of Vassar alums were there
since
we
love and support him.” Warm condolences go
friends and family of Rob Drew.
Please make sure
the dates for
you save
Reunion. I may not be there due to family considto
to
erations, but I will be waiting for happy notes
times had by all. Stay warm,
recalling the good
it’ll soon
be
by March,
spring... with the maple
running
rising
... enjoy the small things,
sap
with white and brown steam
from the wood fires
Emily, age 21, is a senior
at William Smith, son
Spencer, 19, is at Stetson
U. I have been processing my grief by riding my
bike whenever I can. I completed a 150-mile ride
for the MS Society and a century ride along the
of New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
seacoast
and Maine in September. I aspire to ride
100 miles around Lake Tahoe in early June.
Peace.” Condolences to
Morgan
80
you and your
Monomakhoff
and Thom R. Loree, MD, ’7B write that
their youngest son, John, is in his second year
Baker
Matthew
89
Brellis
Fayerweather Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
morganbakerB9@comcast.net
mattbrellis@comcast.net
and
attended the
lives in San Francisco.
Kathleen
keep these
Jr., of NYC, on Aug. 26,
John had the chance to meet
many of our classmates who played rugby with
the original group of players at Vassar. “He and
I traveled from Poughkeepsie to Guilford, CT, to
Robert
2013. She and
Garbade
memorial eucharist. Our children are grown and
Our daughter Elizabeth,
out of the nest.
some
are
age 24, is a software engineer for Google and
. . .
It’s hard to
of
news
family, Catherine.
From Buffalo,
Arbor, MI.
away from their sticks, skates, and pucks.”
Kathleen also wrote
of the loss of our class-
commis-
public works in Dutchess County
Aug. 27, 2013. Congratulations, Noel!
sioner for
photo postcards
few games of ice hockey down at the civic center
in Poughkeepsie with his friend Colin Cederna
and keep in touch. —KathleenBalcezak Bruce
that she also recently finished her first book, a collaboration with
her longtime partner Arnie Arluke. The book is
with their cats from the turn
coach Tony Brown. They play out on a field at the
farm. Being a Buffalo boy, John also sneaks in a
mate
Rosenschein
as
long career
assignment editor in
a
up. The academic discipline and athletic camaraderie is a great sight. In addition to lacrosse,
John plays on the rugby team, led by the fantastic
A cheerful note
from Monica
Frydman, who writes: “After
a
Graham, who
wonderful tradition of standing before the parents, visitors, and
families. The team captains say something. The
coach says something. A team cheer usually roars
boys
the
From Martha
is terrific. The athletes have
like to get in touch with Lori Santiago Dinkelaker
and Nora Fitzpatrick, both ’80.”
developer. We share our time
between NYC and Dutchess County. Son Alex is
a lawyer and daughter Madeline is in veterinary
school. I have three wonderful stepchildren, all
of whom I love dearly and give me great pride.
In addition to working with my husband, I’m on
the board of the SPCA of Dutchess County. My
basset hound, Molly, and I are certified by the
Good Dog Foundation; we make weekly visits to
pediatric patients and late-stage oncology patients
VC, and
He plays lacrosse with coach Marc
this, the weather has just turned from
beautiful extended warm
fall to the fall with
As I write
our
the chill in the air and the heat is on. By the time
this is in your hands, we’ll be in the midst of
winter. I hope you have all found fun ways to
spend the cold months and can now begin to see
the hint of spring around the
Unfortunately, we
sad
some
Jessie
news.
must
start
Jewitt
corner.
this column with
wrote
in to share
that her 24-year-old daughter, Amelie Le Moullac,
died in a biking accident in Aug. 2013. She writes
that she so appreciated her Vassar friends during
this time, especially Leslie
Pappas. If you would
like
to
make
be sent
a
contribution in Amelie’s name,
—Amelie’s Angels, St. Mark’s
Loree
it
and is enjoying his studies and sports.
“His interests are physics, astronomy, and math.
Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Avenue, Palo
Alto, CA 94306 —the fundswill be used to help
impoverished children in Haiti. On behalf of the
at Vassar
can
to
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
67
class,
send
we
heartfelt condolences.
our
to be the time of transition. Some
This seems
Smith
writes in that
some
health. Martin
he has launched CureCancerStarter.org, which
completes his BHAG triptych, which he creatcareer
ed after
hearing he had leukemia. Martin’s Ride
Cure Cancer
to
for
summer
research
cancer
at
“I
Duke,
and he created
a
people can shop
cure
cancer.
“My health is great,” he writes.
learned valuable lessons from having cancer.
CureCancerStore.org
to
of 2010 raised S3OK
where
Without my four years at Vassar, not sure how
I could survive the Big C since those reading,
writing skills are what helped create a support
Gals
system and dream the Big Hairy Audacious
(at least
(BHAGs) that have ‘cured’ my cancer
I’m here now).”
And Cora Schenberg writes in that her year
has been mixed with some
health issues and
enough so
good
some
She and her
news.
husband, Wade
anniversary,
Komisar ’B2, celebrated their 30th
off to George Mason U., and she is
went
son
still teaching in the German department at UVA.
During this time, however, she writes that it is
important to pay attention to your body. After
persistently chasing doctors, she discovered that
her
After
surgery, chemo, and
is rid of the disease and the cure.
of the
50!” line that her manager so
uled
City of New York. The exhibit was schedbe up through Feb. 10, 2014.
People are a-moving and among them is
who is going to the Smoky
Elliott
J. Vizel
Mountains of eastern
Tennessee, to “practice the
ancient medical arts along the banks of the Pigeon
and French Broad Rivers, all the while wrestling
with the ghost of Popcorn Sutton, the king of
moonshine, competing with Appalachian snake
charmers and wandering the peaks and valleys
of said mountain range.” He invites all for a visit.
sales staff
Laurie
she
Food tastes
great
everybody
to
Sally
again, she
says. “I’ll justremind
their bodies.”
trust
writes in with the
Bourrie
that she has
news
changed jobs. “I
cheery
have taken a
senior editor for the permanent collections at the National Gallery. I feel as though
job
as
I’ve
come
home.”
writes that she has moved
was
is full of news.
In Jan. 2013,
the permanent guardteenagers whose parents had
Wimmer
to take on
asked
ianship of two
emigrated from Zaire,
orphaned due
is now
the guard-
Kate
Reade
writes in that she
Rosenblatt
enjoying her “newish” job as the museum
shop manager/buyer for the Berkshire Museum
in Pittsfield, MA. “It combines my retail skills
with my Vassar art background and couldn’t be
is
a
better fit! I wonder if there are
in the Berkshires? Please stop
has a home on
husband Josh
any classmates
by.” Her family still
Martha’s Vineyard, so she and
able to
get there for several
were
vibrant hues, the next, cold and wet, shivering on
the ground. Facetiously, I suggested the early bird
at Bob’s Clam Hut. Each laughed heartily, vigor-
ously shaking the tree. Oh, the leaves we peep.
Apologies to those who have waited too long
to see their note
published. We’ve had a nice little
narcissism, so I’ve decided to leave Lisa
of this issue . . . almost altogether. To
on
run
Tobin
out
the mattresses!
Wyner writes from Cambridge,
(high school
. . college). My book on record
Jonathan
MA: “Graduations abound here
. . . ulp .
mastering is hitting the virtual, and real, shelves
in a couple of weeks, byway of publisher Hal
Leonard/Berklee Press. I’ve been teaching ’round
the clock at Berklee College it seems, taking occasional breaks to plant tomatoes.” In Cambridge,
I’m assuming green tomatoes.
is busy: “I’m creative director
Judy Minot
at D 2 Creative in Somerset, NJ, a digital agency
ad agency of the future!) so
an
(which means
do lots of fun stuff:
we
apps, websites, e-books,
video, interactive stuff in general, and I get to
propose, envision, develop, inspire, and achieve
all this. Some may remember my performances
and
at various Vassar
coffeehouses. I’m still
music, piano, and accordion,
jazzgroup,
a
wants
to be a music star
a position with ePals International Global
Programs. “More work to be done in internal
education exchanges.”
still at IBM and Kate is happy to report they’ve
been married 31 years.
Ain
Rich
In November, Alice
sent word that
that I
Alice
Ain
Rich
is still involved as a career
coach and does corporate advising and conflict
resolution. She says, “I am fortunate to do work
1 love.” She and son Garrett ’ll also enjoy work-
Phil
ing with the Vassar Club of Boston. Her twin
daughters have turned 16. And she finishes with
visits with Vassar friends. I
the fact that Phil
still
an
Washington, DC,
Roselin
and
Laura
to
Berkson
integral part of herlife after all these
Carol Gram
that she and her
will be
attending
take
are
years.
Davis reports in from Baltimore
son
Gram (a
high school junior)
the November
college-counsel-
ing
session at Vassar. “It will be fun to
the
changes
see
has
never
stopped!”
Matt and I
and traveling to
cheer the Brewers on when we’ve been there
for our last season
as Vassar parents.
to
family
John
81
South
Portland, ME
a
is
john@medialogicllc.com
cabins in Montana and
living happily in Washington,
235
music teacher and a children’s book
aka Dr. Love. Hay House is publishof her books this year. Kiss Your Fights
Canfield
Maumee
Napoleon,
OH
Receding from an autumn
reds and flailing yellows,
ing cardigans.
At the register,
Reconnect and Make Reace with the Deceased
counseled
on
will be out in July.
One of Erica
Lansner’s photographs was
selected to be in “Rising Waters: Photographs
of Hurricane Sandy,” an exhibit at the Museum
Teacher
4
43545
campbellsoup.com
ing two
Good-bye: Dr. Love’s 10 Simple Steps to Cooling
Conflict and Rekindling Your Connection came
out in Jan. 2014 and Love Never Dies: How to
201
Sworden
Lane
kathleen_sworden@
Another author in the midst is Dr. Jamie
WINTER
04106
207.415.8601
author. She is also involved in musical theater.
Turndorf
Sperber
11 Candlebrook Lane
Kathleen
Sharon
or
playing
three times
a
grown
play
out
son
a
who,
more
like many 25-year-olds,
—he thinks it’s pretty cool
than he does.”
Kelly continues to enjoy Denver
while working at the botanic gardens. She and
her husband, Buzz, visited family in Italy in
2012; working on plans for their big trip this
winter. Johanna is able to spend time with Christy
Johanna
Wood
whenshe’s in Denver! Johanna cautions,
rush that 50th reunion thing.
not
It’s hard enough to be an A ARP member.”
“And let’s
. ..
Jo —at
least AARP won’t let them take
our
driver’s licenses.
From
Bloomsburg, PA,
Marika
Handakas
Vassar, 0; Bard, 1. Her
reports the final score:
son
Hugh made his college decision. She cried a
bit. After
Michigan.
is
some
West
Lucy
on
eighth grader, Will. Carol, after working for
DC; she
year with
saw
Engebretson ’Bl and Helen Mahoney Pardoe
on
for a lot of laughs this summer
Nantucket,
and Lucy and her family and Bob Weiss
and
his wife have stopped by the field hockey field
20 years in publishing, marketing, and conservation, savors spending time with family and friends
Lisa
lucky this
were
all of
the past 20 years,”
campus over
she says, “and reminisce as we stroll through the
hallowed halls.” She and husband Greg also have
an
finished the Philadelphia Marathon.
running at Vassar and
Roselin
She writes, “Phil started
two
group for English country dances, in Irish jam sessions (or seisiuns , if you
will) or contra dance groups. Occasionally, I sing.
week with a
I have
to
the
realized at that instant I was
no
years away. I
ablaze in
different than the foliage: one moment
were
ian to Amina and Akili, two
active teenagers.
Daughter Riley, 21, is in her senior year of college
vying for the number one spot with another girl.
She is going to be a CPA and has signed on with a
Big Four. Son Griffin has completed his degree in
human ecology and is busy working on a novel,
the development of a video game, and other activities. In Portland, Laurie continues to lobby for
public education, does yoga badly, and hikes the
beautiful Oregon forests.
kindly taught
the morning meeting. Julz snickered
triumphantly, comforted that her discount was
at
mini-vacations throughout the year with family
members. Both daughters are in NYC. Josh is
Cathy Channell
from Colorado
68
but
domestic violence. Laurie
to
she had uterine cancer.
radiation, she
to
weekend of
we
stopped
outlet for elasticized house pants and
us
fading
at a
Polo
forgiv-
a
young woman
three promotions: Student-
. . . No! Military . . . No! Over 50 . . .
Ugh! I let it sit there for five-very-long-seconds
before thrusting my arms
to the sky in Victory.
Of course
she offered the obligatory “You’re not
seven
years of adjunct work, Marika
finally scored a tenure-track position as director
of academic advising at Bloomsburg U. Husband
Doug continues to run the increasingly successful
Pump House Bed & Breakfast, where they
and family—recently welcomed Fern Sanford
complete with dog. Wouldn’t thatmake it a Bed
and Barkfest? (sorry)
Louise
Marcialis
Florence
is a proud parent:
“The rain stopped, the sun shone on Graduation
Terrace while husband Jim and I proudly watched
our
daughter Elizabeth Florence ‘l3 graduate with departmental honors. It was
a
joy to
share Liz’s Vassar experiences (what memories
they evoke!). We also had the chance to relive
memories of other Vassar celebrations with
best
pals Stacy Pettit, husband Eric Molho
and their new
grad, son Dylan Molho
’l3. Hard to believe five years have passed
kids to
since we dragged our
Junior Sons &
Daughters weekend. Maybe they can now
’B3,
envision their own
one
with Eric ’B3 and
future reunions.” Yes . . .
Dylan
’l3 running into each
other
Mug dance for the next 40 years.
(Sea) Glassman’s short story “The
Official End of the Third World Softball League”
on
the
Susan
published
in Nantucket Magazine's
August
acting, writing,
performing on the storytelling circuit, and writing
screenplays. Sea has created an acting approach
called “Soul Emergence: The Actor’s Process as
Spiritual Path.” Recently seen cavorting with
was
issue. In L.A., she teaches
children. I
the
which
on
verge of turning 54,
because, as a journalist, I have a
hard time trusting people with less than 54 years
of life experience—-unless they’ve been vetted by
who is 54.” That may change to 55 by
someone
the time this is published, but we all understand
it’s a moving target.
working with academic clients (mostly cultural
Old and in the
that’s what I heard them
way,
say
to heed the words he said,
He reminisced about life in the Townhouseswith
is
good
am
news
They used
Rendon
fellow poet Catherine
and reminiscing about ye old Tower days editing the Vassar
Review, Sea welcomes any L.A. Vassar visitors
but that was
VassarHub).
Great to hear from fellow Motherpucker Tim
Garvin.
It’s hockey season,
so all us Ice Heads are
channeling a combination of Eric Heiden, Bobby
Orr, and Peggy Fleming.
old and in the
way
to
her (via
contact
Adam
is still
Lee
living in Maine with his wife
16-year-old twins. He writes: “One of the
kids just got his driver’s license, adding a whole
new
degree of freedom for him and stress for
I still work in the car business and am fairly
us.
involved in the environmental
community and in
local politics in Maine (not serving in any office,
but trying to support those who have Maine’s best
interests in mind).” There’s a Paul LePage
(goversaid
nor
of Vacationland) quip here, but my mom
something about if I haven’t got anything nice to
say... blah, blah, blah. Adam wonders if anyone
knows the whereabouts of Matthew Defty ’B2?
Anna
Kaminski
is recently untetheredafter 10
yesterday
Gold will turn
to gray and youth will fade away
They’ll never
about you, call you
care
anthropology) and novelists.
Her kids
17, 16, and 13, keeping life
good healthand spirits.
busy,
are
now
and she’s in
writes from
(Mike) Cornish
he
says he and his family
in this beautiful state.”
Michael
Newfane, VT, where
are
“loving all seasons
Deßoetth, Ezra Seigle, and John Lee ’Bl.
Vintage brought out two of Indira Ganesan’s
last three novels in paperback on her birthday in
November (hardcovers are from Knopf). Check
out her website, www.indiraganeson.com: You’ll
see her work has accolades from the New Yorker,
Chris
the New York Times Book Review, Kirkus
Adele
82
3 rue
75116
and
Reviews, and
Hars
Paul
Paris, France
mother. She says: “I
adele@adelka.com
in
SE Madison Street
always
97214-3933
jcw@r2artinc.com
and families at this time in
our
lives. Robert
that he is married and has
wrote
Zara
boys,
two
ages
three and four. His wife is from Spain, and the
had
years as medical director at Planned Parenthood
in Seattle. Annawrites: “Searching for a diverse
family
approach, what could be more
exciting than
ACA? Teaching, training, guidelines, and patient
all a part of it.
care
are
My first daughter just
started at Vassar and is having the time of her
life. Is it Vassar or is it being on her own
or both?
Bronxville. He
Next is
a
lovely
a
move
out
vacation there this
summer.
of Manhattanto
house in
practices litigation
a
and alcohol
beverage control law in NYC for international
clients, and would like to hear from his friend
Karen who is in our class and lived in New Jersey,
though
he’s not
sure
a
transfer student
feel I fit in, but I liked my classes and
for AAVC’s Vassar Alumnae/i Sons and
campus
about jobs
news
as
professors a great deal.” In particular, she cites
Brett Singer, Bill Gifford, and Evert Sprinchorn.
For my part, I brought my daughter to
503.236,1793
Paris. Lots of
in
came
1979, and did not know many people, though I
keep in touch with a few treasured friends. Vassar
was
a perplexing place for me,
and I did not
Jeff Wallach
Portland, OR
She continues to teach at
Emerson
+33.6.84.96.92.65
2519
Greetings from
more.
College, live in Provincetown, and is
happily fostering a family of kittens and their
Sauniere
of her last name.
Daughters weekend this fall. This is
ly terrific
absolute-
classes. The school has indeed gotten harder to
imporget info now, and sports are a much more
part of college life (the
tant
His real estate
an
specifically for high school
juniors who are kids of alums. They lead you
through the admissions process, and give you a
peek at what it’s like from the admissions office
perspective—a real eye-opener, whether or not
child is interested in actually attending
your
Vassar. The kids even
get to attend a couple of
program
sports director
new
Her younger sister has found she has more
room
and is using it. She also has really thrownherself
business keeps Jeff Goodman
in touch with many folks. Lisa Flores
was
a
gave an excellent presentation). Happily, financial aid—which was clearly explained—is still
into music, composing, and school. I
he sponsored of northguest on a walking tour
CentralPark, and he ran into Tina Fliegel on
ern
very generous.
It was
fun to catch up with other parents,
person with a new
is the best place
am
a
happy
love and still think that Seattle
Earth: No mosquitoes, no
on
the downtown Lexington Avenue express during
helped Adon Van Woerden ’O9
shoveling, no air-conditioners, an ocean, mountains, and easygoing folks in an awful lot of polar
fleece.” Sadly... not much fun for the polar bear.
rush hour. He
celebrated her 20th
O'Leary Johnson
anniversary in October. They have a junior at
Tabor Academy in Marion, MA, and a freshman
course
Karen
Academy, in Byfield, MA. Thus,
they have taken full advantage of the opportunity
to move
to the gorgeous historic seaport village of
Newburyport, MA. Karen, along with Eva Soltys
Clarke, Betsy Stuart
Kehoe, and Betsy Booziotis
Younger ’B2 continue to enjoy theirannualTA7
reunions, most recently in Santa Barbara where
B.K. has a fabulous pad: Art classes, yoga, beach,
at
Governor’s
wine country, etc.
“It’s nice to havefriends in fun
places! Just celebrated
a
friend’s ‘big’ birthday in
close
his
on
into Brian
home in
new
Tormey
at
CNN in Atlanta, Michael
a
new
venture
Schulder has
which, he writes, “only an
individual of a certain age and level of wisdom
pursuing. (I didn’t say what level
of wisdom—just a certain level). You can follow
could think of
new
journalistic journey on my website
wavemaker.me, which I run out of Atlantawhen
I am not helping my wife, Nancy, raise our three
my
ran
“Of
Kevin Watson ’B3.
a
event.
bunch of other classmates, includ-
Brent
Moran
Feigenbaum, and Chris
the Vassar Club of New York’s fall fete earlier
this month,” he concludes.
Gerald
writes that he left his
(Gerry) Ardito
a middle-school science teacher to
position as
join the faculty at
Pace U.’s School of Education
STEM educator. “It’s pretty great,” he says.
Also changing jobs, Michele
Berger
Simmons
writes that after 20 years she left her
as
a
clinical internal medicine practice three years
a medical compli-
ago to work from home for
ance
company that helps hospitals navigate the
insurance regulations. She and
New
er
and
at
a
in the women’s garment manufacturing industry for 13 years. Have not written any books, or
begun
real estate
ing Lisa,
saw
complex world of
any lifesaving drugs. Truly appreciate
all my close friends who do! Kayo.”
After 17 years as a senior executive produc-
Murray Hill,
Hirschhorn
friend of my roomie Elizabeth
Wilson), Daniel Greenberg ’Bl (he hasn’t
changed an iota!), Heller An Shapiro ’Bl, and
I
Sundance. Enjoying freedom from former busiworld. Owned and operated a rep agency
ness
patented
’O2 at
including Sharon Davidson Chang ’B4, Ellen
Calkins ’B l (she was
asking after you, Katie
Doyle-Hummel), Elizabeth Kaledin ’B4 (a dear
her husband
are
adjusting
to
empty-nest life in
Jersey: Her daughter recently graduated
from Wesleyan, and her son is at Georgetown.
She also has seen Tina Fliegel and Lisa Flores
recently, and hopes to make it to the next reunion.
A new
Since
Neely, too:
job for Jessica
March 2010 she’s been director of day and family
services for The Arc of Prince George’s County.
excit“1 do a lot of different jobs, but the most
ing is building community partnerships in the
arts, fitness, and personal development areas
for people with intellectualand developmental disabilities,” she says, adding that she also
has a freelance developmental editing business,
in this time
Many of you who wrote
mentioned thatyou’d attended this program with
your kids in years past, and how great it was.
My VC roomie of four years (!), Amy Mendillo
Mastrangelo, said: “You can’t help but feel the
I sat in the college center
Monday morning
while Olivia went to classes (chem and Art 105)
and watched the world go by. I saw a handsome
athlete check his mailbox, then saw a guy walk
spirit.
by
in
a
skirt—it felt
much the same,
very
just a
improved 21st-century version.”
new
Class sweethearts Chris
English and
Janet
English just celebrated their 30th wedding
anniversary. Chris remembers the Sons and
Daughters weekends—clearly successful as their
Albers
a Vassar sophomore playing
younger son is now
varsity baseball. Their older son graduated from
Vassar last year and is
working
in New
York,
where he and Chris share a Williamsburg apartwhen Chris’s work takes him to the city'. But
ment
the big
news
50 years for
is that after 20 years for Chris and
in Milton,
Janet, they sold the house
MA, and moved to Beacon Hill in Boston. That
means
Janet, who still has a psychotherapy and
analytical practice, can walk to her office. Nice!
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
69
Christenberry writes that their daughter
graduating from college in the spring, as
a women’s, gender, and sexuality studies major.
He quips, “Answering the age-old ‘What do you
of major) degree?’ quesdo with a (insert name
tion, she is, in fact, considering medical school.”
He notes
that he brought her to the Sons and
Daughters weekend when she was in high school,
and even though she chose not to apply to VC, it
still in high
was
a great experience. With his son
school, he says, “Life goes on much the same—always looking for freelance work, doing various
home projects, and playing music whenever
for 19
who are
years and has three teenage boys,
all active and busy in school. He stays in touch
Dave
will be
I can.”
84
30TH
Richard
PO
J. Koreto
Box
539
with Lauren
Tallman, NY
Rykert, Wendy Halpin Hallows, and
Danyluk and occasionally with Steven
Marks
he’s living
as well. Stephen Rockwell
says
in “beautifuldowntownBurbank” with Melanie,
hiswife of 20 years, and 11 -year-old son, Ethan.
10982
Andrea
845.642.4314
rkoreto@yahoo.com
REUNION
Robert
M.
Hallisey Jr.
robert.hailisey@comcast.net
Allison
writes in that she and husband
Kozak
Howard Yellen ’B2 are renovating whatshe calls a
“wreck of a house” in San Francisco. Meanwhile
she’s been
volunteering with a
German
shepherd
with Ruth
group and was planning to meet
Singer and Dan Bodner ’B2. In a good news/bad
news
situation, their car was stolen, but police
rescue
83
Diane
E.
Barry
17 Cortes
Street, Unit
Boston, MA
2
02116
Diane.Barry@alum.vassar.edu
found it. The thiefleft them his Pink Floyd Wall
CD. Bonnie
Bernstein
has been moving. She
and her husband, Eric, relocated from Las Vegas
Tampa, EL—where they will be celebrating
anniversary in June. Susan Johnston
Friedenberg is proud of her dog, which has been
the set in NYC, with what Susan says is a
on
pretty big role in the upcoming movie Life Itself
starring Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton, and
Cynthia Nixon. “About time he started earning his kibble!” she says. Also acting is Martin
Gilbert, who performed as a zombie and traveled
to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Last spring,
he had lunch with colleague Sandra Abt ’6B and
to
their 25th
Cheryl Kagan let
know that she’ll be
very
us
busy for the next several months, as she’s seeking the Democratic nomination for Maryland
State Senate (http://www.cherylkagan.org/). It will
be decided in June 2014, and we wish her all the
best. (Go Cheryl!) Class
Correspondent Diane
Barry is
excited
an
Boston resident. Work at
new
the Office of the
Attorney General is also going
well, and she’s in the process of hiring the rest of
OAG’s eDiscovery team and learning the arcana
ly
Boston this
and says he “can still throw it down.” His sons,
just in time
summer
exciting World
Series and
to
to be a local for
cheer on the Red
Sox at their Boston
Victory Parade (GO SOX!).
local Vassar get-together in
returned to
playing basketball after
meanwhile, “both play
a
mean
a
acting dream, he
the A Noise Within theater
hiatus
Pasadena, where he is appearing in
production of Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince
of Tyre. He’ll soon be playing Bob Cratchit in A
Christmas Carol as well. He’s also involved in
music, with former Loud & Awful band mate
Rees Pugh ’B3, in a new
bandcalled The Nerve.
He occasionally bumps into Ben Swett, Andrew
Sears ’B4, Jeffrey Soros ’B3, Mary Jo Agresta
DuPrey ’B5, and Daniel Reichert ’B5. “All in
all, life is good.” As for myself, Richard
Koreto,
I have one
daughter soon to graduate college
and one
to start, so my wife, Elizabeth,
soon
and I will soon
have a taste of being empty nestlook forward to celebrating our
silver
ers —we
I drove
anniversary in June. This past summer,
down to Maryland and had a delightful minireunion weekend with Rob Chase ’B5 and Jeff
Weinstock ’B5.
at our
animal
in about milestones in 2014:
and is
to
rescue
happy
Pals,
require her
job
of the house she and her husband
out
move
groups PAWS and Purrfect
that the new
didn’t
built together. She and her husband are planning
a trip to Hawaii next
spring to celebrate their
20th
married at
wedding anniversary—theywere
Hickam Air Force Base near
Honolulu.
Calling all
local alums: Elizabeth is interested in connecting
up with any other Vassar alums in the
WA,
Tacoma,
area.
Cooley still enjoys life in Seattle, where
she andher husband, Iraad Abi-Saleh, have lived
Laura
for
more
job”
than 10 years.
Aside from her
“day
at the U. of
heads up
an
Washington in Seattle where she
online medical education program,
Laura
runs
a little
company on the side called
Global-Local Caravan. Its first publication was
a
book written by her mother about her experiat age 21 of
was
a big transition for
goodness for Skype!” Elizabeth
Daughter Sarah
will finish her undergraduate degree at Franklin
& Marshall and, most
likely, will pursue a
master’s in speech pathology. Other daughter,
Maureen, will complete high school and hopes
to be accepted to her yet to be determined early
decision choice for college. Elizabeth will have
taught in the dance department at Tisch School
of the Arts, NYU, for 20
years. And finally, she
and her husband, Charlie Steinhorn (professor
of mathematics at Vassar), will celebrate their
25th anniversary in July. Liz Kaplan has been a
VC
visitor, as her daughter Annie is in the class
of 2017 and loving it. By coincidence, she lives
in
Joss with her roommate
Sarah whose parents
She agrees with Liz and father
David Plotkin ’B2 that Joss is the best dorm on
also went
Five
total labor of love. The latest book Laura sought
six
1946-1948 (see
fit to
publish came out in Oct. 2013, and is called
Something I Can Do: Voices from Occupy Seattle.
Laura loves the beauty, lakes, and mountains of
the Pacific Northwest. She had fun at
and loves the home improvements
So
exciting
activities
WINTER
on
to
see
the
the farm.
2014
new
science
on
Reunion,
campus.
building
and
to Vassar.
Danielson
campus. Wyoming resident Marsha
Harris
writes in that she and her husband, Joseph
living and working in Warsaw
VQ Notes about Anne
Waterman Cooley, deceased, from class of 1946
in this issue). Putting that book
together was a
ence
from
everyone. “Thank
Frankel
writes
Harris,
have
a
them all.” Seven
or
dozen children. “Yes, I birthed
are
in
college or graduate school,
Brickner
prospering at
Peter
85
“more
in
this
who is
was
recently over
family, minus son
SUNY
Binghamton.
Schindelman
34
Longfellow Drive
West
Springfield, MA
pjschindel@aol.com
upright bass.”
husband, both
September to drop her daughter off at the U.
of Exeter. British schools don’t seem
to go out
of their ways to include parents, she wrote, so
express
summer.
Maude
house with her splendid
Daniel,
her regrets at
missing Reunion last
She’s also been having a busy year. She
joined the Dickenson Law Group, a real estate
litigation firm in Tacoma, WA, and worked
five trials this year (!!). She still volunteers with
to
Cameron Thompson wrote
Amy Froehlich
a
a
Minerva
a
he’s
notes
company in
Knapp and her
federal employees, were
hit by the government
shutdown. On a better note, she went to England
Any interest in
the
city? Elizabeth
at
recent-
of government procurement rules. She moved into
an
70
former studentRishi Bhandari ’97. He has
Still pursuing the
resident artist
01089
lives in Hong Kong. She is
technology officer for Client Facing
Technology APAC at ÜBS. Minerva encouraged
Tantoco
the chief
to pursue careers
in the technolwomen
ogy field” in a Forbes.com feature—be sure to
Google it to read it online.
Leaky Boot
Bialer’s
published Matthew
of the Extraordinary
description of it appears on an
Bridge: Long
in
July.
A
Amazon.com
Press
Poems
the book: “Vanished
page for
civilizations, unidentified flying objects,
giant people, strange sea creatures, alien
visitations, enigmatic ancient artifacts . . .
government conspiracies, media fraudsters, mass
hysteria, genuine believers. ... Welcome to the
weird and wonderful world of Matt Bialer. A
fascinationwith the strange, the unexplained and
the downright weird manifests itself hypnotically
in this selection of
long poems
that address
our
hopes, our misconceptions, and our fears about
things we just do not understand. These poems
read like fast-paced
stories, never fail to draw the
reader in, and, above all, entertain.”
That’s all for now.
If you’re on Facebook,
please join the Vassar class of 1985 page there
to see more
and pictures of
contemporary news
classmates—and hopefully contribute some
of
your own.
have graduated and are out in the work world.
still at home. In addition, Marsha has
are
grandchildren, chickens, a beehive, and a
garden. “Mostly, we have lots of love.” I wrote
back saying we hope everyone can make it to the
reunion. Mark
Glazer
is a
practicing radiologist
in Milwaukee. He has also
just bought several
Sky Zone franchise rights, and will be opening
trampoline parks within the next year or so in
Milwaukee and New
Jersey. He has been married
86
SALVE all! Since
the
Leslie
F. Kline
Capelle
lcapelle@hotmail.com
Jan. 20141 have been enjoying
of
yet another exchange student, this
one
from northern Italy. Carlotta loves to play
volleyball and cook. I am practicing
spikes
company
my
AND
enjoying REAL Italian food!! Meanwhile,
Miles, has turned nine. I now spend
painting bisque ceramics, and hoping
the final firing doesn’t accent
the flaws! I rely
TONS of stencils (thank
on
you, eßay), and the
time with a paintbrush has been wonderfully
therapeutic.
By the time this hits print, we all hopefully will
have enjoyed a
Happy Thanksgiving and winter
holiday season! May 2014 bring full employment,
functioning national healthcare, stabilization of
global temperatures, increased use of green energy
and peace and serenity to all.
resources,
John
Ferro
wrote:
“Last year, after spending nearly three years away, much of that doing
corporate search, I returned to the Poughkeepsie
Journal to head up our environmental reporting. In July and August, I joined a team of
my nephew,
a lot of time
National Science Foundation scientists for five
days
in
Greenland,
as
they tested
a
device that
ice sheets. I’m still living in the best
measures
place
Earth—New Paltz—with my wife, Denice
Hartmann (not
Vassar), and our two kids, Nica
and Nolan. I have not been back to Joe’s since
on
the
‘Nights’ parties. Instead, you’re
likely
more
find me at the Gilded Otter, the local brew
pub that is a short walk from my house along
theWallkill Valley Rail Trail.”
to
From Eric
Bove,
we
heard he has left
Worcester for the rural town
He is
the
now
acting housing
of Westford.
unit director
the Massachusetts Commission Against
Discrimination. “Jeremy is six and in first grade
and as wild and curious as ever.” Okay, Eric, but I
at
want
to
know if Jeremy is still
a
Jedi fighter,
capa-
ble of flying any starship withoutinstruction?!!
“I find myself missing the
Cheryl Lubin wrote:
autumn
foliage these days, but I am relishing life
at the moment.
After a five-year stint parlaying
my
law degree into
a
fun but low-paying
adjunct
professor gig
at City University of New York in
the 19905, I moved back to my hometown of Los
Angeles in 1997.1 taught high school English and
history in
for
the bureaucraticminefield of LAUSD
way too
long, and finally
took
some
time
do what I really love—theater!—by getting
PhD in theater from UCLA in 2008.1 have
my
one
child, Miranda, who will be 14 this week;
to
in Beijing, where I
summer
visiting professor (emphasis on courtroom
drama) at the U. of International Relations. I have
settled into the daily routine of teaching: I am
the humanitieschairperson at Fusion Academy, a
small private school, and I host a weekly show on
Los Angeles Talk Radio (www.latalkradio.com/
Cheryl.php) called In Our Times, which gives
me
a great chance to speak with artists, authors,
we
spent this past
was
actors, and anyone I find fascinating. I would
love to interview any Vassar folks, so feel free to
Meanwhile, Cheryl, anything you
want
to cruise up PCH for a lovely weekend,
visit Carlotta,
please bring Miranda and come
all the kitties, and me in Port Hueneme!!
Katy Riffle Roper wrote:
“Greetings from
contact
me.”
Seattle! I made it back
to campus this summer,
the first time in a couple decades and it brought
back a flood of wonderful memories! I miss this
touchstone and knowing where everyone is! Being
far away, Vassar seems
so
like this wonderful
protected bubble in my life. Colorful and full of
happiness.
“After VC came
law school at Notre Dame,
with Lou Holtz, marrying my West Point cadet
and then living in Europe, where Katy was
pronounced ‘Kitty’ and I became ‘Kate.’ In fact,
born in West Germany and we
my oldest was
train.
able to get our chunksof the Berlin Wall in
1990. We returned to Seattle just ahead of the
They saw my Vassar ring and decided
hello. This isn’t the first time that my ring
has led to a chance conversation with a Vassar
grad. How about you?
first Iraq war. Whew. I practiced law for nearly
a decade, had two
more
babies, then retired to
negotiate at home. In 2003, we collected two
babies and now my kids
from
more
in
tells me that he is living in
Gary Heavner
the Rockland County, NY, house where he was
born. With him are his wife,
Ann, and their
three daughters. Corinne is entering Penn State
24 to
in
were
range
age
10. We wouldn’t change a thing. I
myself busy
on
a
keep
volunteering
assisting with our
with their well-being,
number of boards and
small business.
going through their own
are
everyone is well. Please call
in Seattle!”
if you
me
are
ever
“As school
Krystal Simmons Gill wrote:
ended last year, our son Julius asked me if he
‘I start
in the fall. I
play football
year!’
I can’t wait to
replied,
‘Sure
school.’ ‘Mom,’ he retorts,
How fast the
years are going.
if he will consider the place
high
you get to
next
see
dad (Joseph Gill ’B7).
where I met his awesome
While trying to find an affordable Spanish immersion program for my son, I decided to begin my
own! What a blast! If any of
you language lovers
there have done the same,
out
I would love to
ideas with
hello
you. A warm
everyone in the class of 1986.” Hey, Krystal, I
spent a month in Nicaragua in 1985, living with a
hear/share some
to
family in one of the poor barrios, and soaking in
the
extraordinary day-to-day life in Managua. I
back again in 1987 and 1989, for law school
went
credit. THAT’s immersion! I
strongly recommend
it—to whichever Spanish-speaking
country you
are
able
He shared the same
David Friedland flew in for the weekend from
his home in Hong Kong. Here’s hoping they all
broke the bank!!
And that’s our
Again, best wishes
news.
to
all in 2014.
Joseph
87
New
A.
Heissan
York, NY
Jr.
10023
jheissan@gc.cuny.edu
Since my last column I’ve had two
“Vassar
encounters.” The first was over
the summer,
when
I met up with Tracy Hirsch Kane in NYC. We had
great lunchand some
good laughs. The other
happened when I crossed paths with an alumnus
from the class of 1986 at the Harlem-125th Street
a
family.
plays rugby on the U.S. national
high school and doing very
wellacademically. Cate is only eight, and may be
Much of their time is
Scouts, piano, sax, etc.
still a prosecutor and run a
soccer,
Gary writes: “I am
county-wide special investigations unit investigating and prosecuting mostly white-collar, financial,
and organized crime. I see Bob Eldridge all the
time, and we both enjoyed seeing everyone at last
to
year’s reunion. I also read the VQ from cover
cover
each issue.”
tells me, “Things
McCarthy Hutchins
good up here in the rocking metropolis of
Prides Crossing, MA.” She is busy running
Communications, Ink, a full-service marketing
company. “Keeping up with new
technology has
kept me on my toes, but I’m enjoying delving into
analytics and social-media content
generation.
While I don’t think I’ve changed a bit since the
1980s, my kids sure are growing up fast! My son
is a junior in high school and
enjoys competitive
sailing and skiing. My daughter is 13 and loves to
play soccer. My husband and I just celebrated our
19th wedding anniversary. So things are good. I
Cara
are
sorry to miss the 25th reunion, but if anyone
finds themselves in the Boston area, I’d love to
was
connect.”
Lisa
Mani
writes: “For many years,
I have
been out of the ‘Vassar loop’ with familial
issues,”
but she also tells me that she is now
a
was
He
was
consultant in Birmingham, AL.
Dan
Bucatinsky had his work on the TV
show Scandal recognized with a 2013 Emmy
Award for
Mari
heading
to
Connecticut to
there to put his mom
on
see
the
Outstanding
Guest Actor in
a
Drama.
Tankenoff
psychologist
says that she has been a
for 20 years, but is now migrating
away from clinical work, in favor of
coaching and
individuals and businesses. She’s
also going back to school for a PhD in organizational systems (dynamics). She writes, “I now
live in Tucson, AZ, where I’d vacationed with
consulting for
family for
to
old retread stories for three
days with David Rinn, Jim Wright, Dave Drury,
Andy Block, Paul De Moor, and Peter Waltman.
some
and
Samantha is in
physician-
to go.
Finally, we heard from Bill Hague: With his
wife, Lisa, they are getting ready to be “emptynesters.” Their son,
William, is a sophomore
at Duke with the same
poli sci major that Bill
had at VC. He’s running on the cross-country
and track teams, and Bill is
“living vicariously
though him.” Bill and Lisa’s daughter, Caroline,
“is a high school senior and
writing essays and
fighting with the Common App. She was accepted to her first university this week so it’s good
to know that she’ll be going somewhere good
in the fall!” Meanwhile, Bill enjoyed a minireunion with all of his VC ’BS pals in Las
Vegas.
trainstation. I
August
team.
spent with rugby,
college experiences, I think of Vassar often. The
friends I made there (students and professors) and
the
stretched and
pulled my perspecway they
tives. It is a great touchstone in
my life. Hope
when
to say
the artistic and musical one.
“As my kids
could
same
over
30 years. It’s been
a
mellow spot
land and call home.”
Denise Hall
Mazzei
spectacular autumn
Valley! Have enjoyed
a
emails: “It has been
season
in the Hudson
it
tremendously, with
lots of outdoor activities with family and
friends. Participated in the ‘Day at Vassar’ and
thoroughly enjoyed the McCarthy lecture ‘The
Common Good.’ Mr. McCarthy is as animated
and keeping in full character, he
as ever,
only
managed to get halfway through his lecture
notes! On the work front, after serving the
Culinary Institute of America for three years as
an
advancement officer, I received a promotion
to senior advancement officer. The promotion
was
wonderful encouragement in this new role,
however, I have decided to return
to the CIA
faculty after the New Year.”
Janet
at the New
Kraynak earned tenure
School U., where she has been teaching for the
past eight years. She is
now
an associate professor
history. Janet writes: “My
second book, Nauman Reiterated, is currently in
production at the Universityof Minnesota Press,
of contemporary art
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
71
in their electronic mediations series, and is due to
in
2014.1 have also been busy
be
published
early
other publications, including
on
monograph
a
on
the contemporary artist Monica Bonvicini, which
is being published by Phaidon Press (London) and
also in 2014. At the New School, I
out
willcome
jointappointment in two divisions (Eugene
and Parsons), and in my department
College
Lang
at Parsons (the School of Art and Design History
and Theory) there are, among only 17 full-time
faculty, a full four of us (myself, David Brody ’9O,
Jeffrey Lieber ’97, and Sarah Lichtman ’92) who
Vassar graduates! We always joke that there
are
be something in Vassar’s art history DNA.
must
Other than work, life is great. I live in a historic
starting the college search process with our
daughter and looking forward to heading up to Vassar for the ‘Sons and Daughters’
comments
younger
of the year
session in November.” Leslie ends her notes
a
great
Greene, Brooklyn, with my husband of 19 years
(hard to believe!), Stefano Basilico, and our son,
Giulio, who just turned nine. In case she is readJane
Lipsitz.
ing, a nod to my former roommate,
My son (a real foodie) is an avid Top Chef fan,
so we
religiously watch every season —kudos!”
Four columns down, 11 more
to go!
Christina
88
Kanka
Nelson
with
great seeing everyone
is running a
Catherine Martinez
in Lower Manhattan,
center
media arts
nonprofit
DCTVny.
help kids and make docuproud to say that our latest
documentary, Redemption was nominated for
Oscar (yay!). I am living in Queens with my
an
husband, Dale, and my two daughters, Odile
(five) and Sylvie (three). They are funny. My sister
Mary (’B6) lives in Brooklyn Heights, as does
Also, I was recently in touch with my
my mom.
(she
college freshman roommate, Sarah Dolven
transferred back out to Berkeley), but since we
She
explains:
“We
mentaries. I’m
,
reconnected I have gotten to know Sarah’s stepdaughter Eliza, who now lives in NYC.”
Sam
has re-started classes in the graduate
Bell
U.
program in technical writing at East Carolina
He believes he should have his second master’s
Chapel Hill and adjusting to home ownership
after 28 years of living in dorms, rented rooms,
kikifive@verizon.net
and
VA
20124
in
an
announcement
that
some
of
these Class Notes with that thought: exercise. Go
for
ing!),
team
walk, do
yoga, swim,
jog, bike,
sport. Several classmates took
and sweated.
Way
to
or
play
a
the streets
go!
David
Stone, president of class of 1988,
the Upper West Side of
writes: “I’m back on
NYC, still tutoring. On a lovelyday in September,
I rode my third ‘Century’ around NYC, unicycling 106 miles. I’m halfway through a six-week
standup class and having fun. And 1 love that my
nine-year-old and I ride our unicycles to and from
her nearby school. I had a great time at Reunion
and am looking forward to organizing (or at least
attending) mini-reunions before the next one.”
Henry
to
has continued his enthu-
Johnson
siasm for distance
running sparked by his first
marathon experience last year. In 2013, he ran
five half-marathons (Manhattan, Sleepy Hollow,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Staten Island) and is
looking forward to running the NYC Marathon
next
year with Fred’s Team teammate
Joe
Coplin.
Although injured, Joe Coplin stays positive. He writes about his compound stress
fractures to the left iliac crest formerly known
as his hip. It has sidelined him from the NYC
Marathon, but according to Joe, the orthopedist “assures me I will be good for London in
April. 1 will be raising money on behalf of the ICR
(Institute of Cancer Research).” You can visit this
website for updates and donations: http://www
.justgiving.com/Joseph-Coplin.
Now here
world. Leslie
are
Riven
some
Hafter
in the business
begins:
“I started a
July; I’m now the direcof talent acquisition for Ditech Mortgage
tor
Corp outside of Philadelphia. After 14 years in
the consulting world, I’m enjoying the corpolife. On the home front, our older daughter
rate
will graduate from Kenyon College in May, and
new
job
WINTER
at
the end of
mates
201
4
household. Parents get
a
deal in this whole
raw
I hear your pain and sympathize
level of education.
college thing.”
this next
on
I, too, have a senior in high school. Kyle and
I both agreed we can’t wait ’til May 2014. We’ll
take February 2014 as college essays, applications, SATs, ACTs will have been completed
and anxiety will be less. As for me, a year ago, I
even
wished to do
firsts. I
some
my first 5K
ran
race
—
appropriately called the Diva Dash. My daughter
and I toured Huntley Meadows Park in northern
Virginia, a local park but our first visit. I used the
—love those pinegrill rather well in the summer
I
not
a second experience that was
had
apples.
too
pleasant. . . being laid off. So Igo forth to
look for employment in a new industry. I leave
these Class Notes with the words of Diana Nyad.
A true
inspiration! “Find away.”
us
feel in the next
few years. Mary Catherine
Carleton
Jones
is officially an empty nester. “My
husband (Eric) and I find it most distressing, but
I do manage to distract myself (as usual). I’ve
joined the Burlington Choral Society (yay sing-
a
Brodsky, and Dave Rosoff
played a few games of old man
basketball at altitude, a lumbering affair in which
of us moved faster than a full shopping
none
cart.
I’m currently living through the college
application process with my eldest daughter
and looking forward to peace returning to our
even
apartments.”
Here’s
outside my window on
an
early
November day ... the sun is shining, the temps
about 60°, and I got my exercise earlier this morning (walking/jogging two miles). I wanted to start
a
was
Schulman, Charles
’B7. We
703.988.9480
Clifton,
Looking
72
was
degree in about five years. Sam continues: “I’m
also still working full-time as a medical writer,
and it turned out that my new boss who was hired
last spring is a Vassar grad (’73). I’m still living
South Springs Drive
13641
“It
comment.
at Reunion.”
have a
brownstone in the beautiful neighborhood of Fort
huge occasion. “My biggest event
officiating the wedding of Josh
a number
Sokol
in Aspen. Also attending were
of Vassarites, including Amy Wilson
Sklar, Eric
on
we’re
may
am
serving
on
Liz
89
Spetnagel
970.471.3225
spetnagel.liz@gmail.com
25TH
Nancy Bagot
nancy__bagot@yahoo.com
REUNION
the boards of the Women
Network, Miss Vermont
Scholarship Organization, Parkinson’s Comfort
Project, and Children’s Literacy Organization.
Of particular note:
My voice-over business
(Voice-Over Vermont) is gathering a full head
of steam —or
maybe I am just still trying to recov-
Baseball and America in the BicentennialSummer
for
from the steamy scene I had to narrate
my
first full-length audiobook project. No, I will not
Dunne/St. Martin’s Press. I (Liz Spetnagel) was
Business Owners’
er
usual, the class of 1989 has been up to
great stuff. Dan Epstein has a follow up
his recent
to
book, Big Hair and Plastic Grass,
coming out in the spring. Stars and Strikes:
As per
some
of
’76 will be released
tell anyone the title. Ever.”
in Los
Parker! He has been
Dobry den, Matthew
happily married for a few years to Martina
Sabacka Parker, originally from the Czech
Republic. They live in Brooklyn Heights. His
wife and he have one bratty Spinone (dog), and
they are expecting their first child next year.
Matthew describes his journey. “Following
graduation and a brief stint working/partying in NYC to finish off the 1980s, I moved to
Washington, DC, and earned a master’s degree
in history while working as a historian for the
federal government. After three years in DC, I
moved back to Brooklyn and started a software
development business that I ran for seven years.
During the dot-com era, I and four other partners
started the first prepaid Master Card gift card
the U.S. I worked in the prepaid card
company in
industry for a dozen years.”
Dan.
April
29
by
Thomas
Angeles recently and had hoped to see
Although that part of the trip fell through,
I did get to spend a delightful evening catching up
with Adam
Tomei
lan is recently
and lan Lobell.
a grandfather and encourages those with inquiring minds to message him directly for details.
Erik
checked in from Amsterdam where
Hahn
he is
“enjoying a Daddy chapter” with his daughters, Kaija, 8, Alette, 6, and their dog, Tasha, 15.
has been appointed co-direcEric
Robinson
tor
of the Press Law and
Democracy Program
the interwebs, our
at Louisiana State U. Fire up
classmates
Arlene
are
all
it!
over
Cooke
TV, house hunting
had
in
brush with
a
Cork, Ireland,
Hunters International. You
can
on
find the
reality
House
episode
been
years, I’ve
youtube.com.
Keeping up the class cool factor, Elizabeth
Vianna’s winery, Chimney Rock, will be featured
in the PBS series Vintage: Napa Valley 2012, a
six-part series that was to air in Jan. 2014. Check
design consultant to the payments industry and
out
also the co-founder of a
called KYC
company
SiteScan that is a web-based application used in
to Art
Matthew continues: “For the past seven
self-employed as a software
am
the payments industry. I attended the 25th Vassar
prompted me to hire
reunion and had a blast. It
from the class of ’9B because I was
reminded of how remarkable Vassar people are.”
someone
On to
a
wedding and college ...
Dan
Shapiro
on
the PBS website.
Last, but certainly
not
least, congratulations
Almquist, People magazine’s TEACHER
OF THE YEAR! Art’s
awesomeness
is
expounded
the People
magazine website
upon on
the Vassar Hub site.
It is with great sadness that I must
the news
of the passing of Robert
as
well
as
also share
(Bob) Wayman
in
A greater Denver Broncos fan has
July 2013.
existed.
never
Laurie
90
Erika appeared in
disease!)” This past summer,
Stargroves’s new music video for the song “Hats
in the Air.” It’s an homage to a famous cult film of
the
19705; be on the lookout for it! Most recently,
Erika began traveling withthe North American
of Flashdance—The Musical! She’s playtour
Martinka
medictinka@yahoo.com
Miss Wilde and understudying Hannah and
ing
Abra
”
Now that’s a group of third through fifth
graders that understands the importance of collective bargaining.
Don’t forget to send your news!!
door!
Louise. If you follow her on
see pictures of her in costume
Rothberg Gorby
abracouture@hotmail.com
Facebook,
you can
and at various loca-
Laura
92
Escamilla-Fouratt
lefouratt@yahoo.com
tions around the
country.
Hi all! We had
much
so
last issue, I had
to
interesting news for the
chop and edit and really be
concise. This issue: The
looking forward to
is sparse. I was
juicy news, but I guess
news
some
we’ll make do with what we
was
sorry
planning conference in the
beginning of November—my back decided to go
to
miss
have. I
reunion
our
out, and I spent theweekend in bed instead. Oh
well, it just gives me more to look forward to for
our
meeting. Thanks for the great pictures
next
of campus, Michele
Camardella!
is very happy to report that
show The Fosters on ABC Family has
Julia
Kovisars
her new
been picked up for a second season.
She was
able to take a nice summer
hiatus to Barcelona
and London.
Christine
finally grew up and
leaving my West
Hollywood apartment after 19 years.” I must
say, I’ve enjoyed giving Lara helpful home-buying
advice on Facebook, but in spite of my “help”
her new home looks lovely and unlike my first
home, it does not smell of dead people.
Lisa
Collins
has been working for
Mac Lean
change in Washington State. She helped to pass
SeaTac Proposition 1 in Seattle, which raises
the minimum wage for airport workers to $l5/
Lara
bought
writes in the for the first
Moutier
writes: “I
condo in Culver City,
hour. She also worked very hard on the 1-522
initiative to label genetically engineered food
as
such in
Washington State. Unfortunately,
lost, but did get 49 percent of
Corporations from outside the state
the 1-522 campaign by 4:1 to protect
the initiative
the
Yu
Cohen
a
vote.
Angela
93
Bowman
Eryc Eyl
VC93ClassNotes@gmail.com
and Eryc Eyl are
tickled
submit for your approval the first
edition of class of ’93 Class Notes under their
Bowman
Angela
turquoise
to
watch. Thanks to everyone who shared with us.
If you missed out, come
see us in the spring. And
for the news.
now
Angela
David
Beatty loved
reunion.
our
“My husband and kids loved walking around
eating at the Retreat,”
campus and of course,
she writes. “We were
lucky enough to visit all
of my old
in Main. Old memories
rooms
came
professor of psychiatry, teaching, mentoring,
practicing—and for the last 10 years serving as
us
a
dean for student affairs and medical education. We moved for my new
job at the American
tant
Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a national
not-for-profit organization based in NYC. I’m
heading up the research, education, survivor, and
Planning
the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture,
and Preservation, starting in Jan.
rushing back! It was nice to catch up with old
and new
friends. Hope to see everyone at our
25th in 2018!” Angela and her husband, Tom,
just celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary.
to three, holds the
Busy as ever, Angela is mom
position of continuity director at Philadelphia’s
KYW Newsradio, and recently became certified
as a Zumba instructor and completed her first 5K
run, dressed entirely in 1980 s garb. And speaking of the 1980s, Angela and Tom loved seeing
2014. Vassar’s loss is Columbia’s
New Order in concert
I would wish Ryan lots of
Don
outspent
time: “Pm excited to
say that after 23 years of
living in San Diego, we moved back to the East
state’s actual residents. But the
Coast this fall. I’ve been involved with academ-
lots of nationalpublicity and was
ic medicine at UCSD School of Medicine
as
a
prevention programs at AFSP. Jacque, Luke (14),
Camille (12), and I are living in Holmdel, NJ. If
anyone has an interest in suicide prevention or
walking in the overnight ‘Out of the Darkness’
walk in June, please let me know. I’d love to
with Vassar friends—it’s been too
re-connect
long!
”
information is avail-
Christine’s contact
able
through AAVC.
I hope you’re all doing well and
saving up the
for the next issue! We really do love to hear
news
from you! Happy winter, spring, and 2014!!! Til
next
time: Laurie Martinka
their
own
interests rather than the healthof the
campaign gained
extremely valu-
able by drawing attention to this issue that affects
all.
Ryan Hart
dean for
has accepted the position of assisalumnirelations at
development and
good fortune;
luck, but he’s far too
fabulous to need it. Congratulations!
Kerry-Jane Lowery writes: “I’ve just accepted
a job with ICRC, the International Committee of
the Red Cross, based in Jerusalem, Israel, for the
next
year or so. My base is Geneva, Switzerland,
I’ll be working as a writer for
at the moment.
them, andwill continue with my work as a freelance
copywriter, editor, and photographer for a
there
variety of clients from over there. I assume
be an alumni association in Israel, and look
must
forward to meeting fellow students over there.”
Lisa
Tulchin
has a trip to Kenya and South
African planned for February. She says, “So excited to
91
Erika Amato is
Wendy
8300
Bethel
East
Anne
Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47401-8966
webethel@gmail.com
one
of thebusiest people I know,
and the luckiest. She spends most
of her time
singing and acting in professional productions
in more
than I’ve been to in
states
per year
my
life. Her recent
Wisconsin
credits include three months in
playingDolly Tate in Annie Get Your
Gun, and appearing
as
Ninetta in Jack London:
Sex, Love, and Revolution
InternationalFringe Festival
at
the New York
She writes: “I’ve also been performing a lot in
various concerts
around NYC. I feel very lucky
that my Vassar friends continue to show their
to my performances, so let
just say a big thank-you to Beth Ammerman,
support by coming
me
Courtney Costello, Karen
Leeds, Mitchell
Hull
Klein, Hope Singsen, Alizon
Reggioli,
and anybody else I’m forgetting! (Old-timer’s
see Tebogo Mogajane-Jikwana and Russ
Opland!”
I continue to divide my time between making
dolls, taking things
that
are
not
food
out
of the
mouths of dogs, and laughing at the brilliance
that comes
out of the mouths of the children I
teach every week. Teaching Sunday school is not
something I ever in a million years saw myself
doing, but then again, I didn’t realize that there
was
a religion where you didn’t have to believe
in God, but in equality and justice. This fall, I
taught the kids about Labor Day. In order to learn
about child labor, poor working conditions, and
theneed for organization, I turned the classroom
into a bead-stringing sweatshop with a list of
rules that ranged from “No weekends! No lunch
breaks! No sick days!” to “Make 100 necklaces
per day or no bathroom privileges!” After having
a secret
meeting, the students went on strike and
made signs which they brandished at me while
marching around and chanting things like “1,2,
3,4, we won’t take it anymore!” or my favorite “1,2, 3,4, you better unlock the bathroom
IMorbeck
this past summer,
and his wife, Susanna.
with
Though she missed Reunion, Kathy
had a mini-reunion of her
Duden
August, when Mary and Andrew
Busse
Krause
own
in
hosted
her family, as well as the family of Dorothy
Pomerantz, in Utah. Surprise guests David
Ludmar ’94 and family made the week partic-
ularly memorable for Kathy, filled with food,
hiking, swimming, and stories. Kathy encourages
her classmates to put together similar gatherings:
“We strongly urge you to thinkabout getting all
of your closest college buddies together somewhere that worksfor everyone; it was
we
hope to do it again in the next
and
so
worth it
few years.”
writes that, after
Mandy Steckelberg Fabian
performing and writing, she’s finally
putting her Vassar film degree to use. She won
years of
top female filmmaker honors at the Chicago
Comedy Film Festival. She’s planning to shoot a
feature film this spring in Connecticut. Mandy
was
particularly pleased to see her former housemates, Josh
She
Rocker
and Sarah
Sisco,
at Reunion.
Jason
sorry to miss Chris Barth,
Evans,
Emmy Laybourne, and Erin Weinberg, to name
a few. Mandy says: “1993 was
a really great class
filled with bright, beautiful people. Loved being
a
was
part of it.” As a Los Angeles denizen, Mandy
a lot of Eddie Gamarra ’94, Katrina Knudson
sees
’96, and Dan Bucatinsky ’B7. Get in touch with
to direct
Mandy if you’re looking for someone
your next comedy.
Camille
Guthrie’s new book, Articulated Lair:
Poems for Louise Bourgeois, including poetry
that she began in 1994, just after Vassar, came
out in Jan. 2013. She and Duncan
Dobbelmann
moved
to
upstate New York
ago, withchildren Pierre and
VASSAR
nearly
five years
Delphine. “Country
QUARTERLY
73
life suits
now,” Camille says. Camille teaches
us
where Duncan
Bennington College,
literature at
is associate dean. The pair had
a
mini-reunion at
their house this summer,
including Erika Mijlin,
who also teaches at Bennington College, Anne
94
at
Reunion, and his
312
come.
Friedlander
Landau
wants
to
has been promoted
role in the NYC Department of
Education, executive director of public
giving. In this new capacity, she will lead the
opportunity to
who got in touch after seeing her article in Real
Simple. She’d loved hearing from everyone and
encourages any classmates whofind themselves in
Portland, OR, to pop into one of her yoga classes.
She
promises
Katherine
where she
grab a
you can
After 15 years
beer after that.
journalist in NYC,
Nelson
moved back to California,
now
lives in Healdsburg, in Sonoma
as
a
County wine country. About a year and a half
her own
PR and media
ago, Katherine started
development firm, NelsonDaly, with a partner
from high school, serving architects, interior
and product designers, and lifestyle companies.
Katherine misses her New York friends and jour-
a
little one
guide and love visitors—so get
”
The year 2013
for Dr. M. J. Momot
award-winning year
Price. In January, she and
her husband, Marcus, were
named the grand
marshals of the Main Street Founders’ Day
Parade in their hometown of Zephyrhills, EL.
They
was
an
then received the People’s Choice Award
for their parade float in March. In September, the
awards for industry of the year,
family received
outstanding retail leader, community
service and
innovative business of the year from various civic
and trade organizations in their area for their
franchise business, Coin’ Postal.
Thompson recently
Marcia-Elizabeth
married the love of her
life,
Brian V.
Baker,
in
whatshe calls “an outlandishly beautiful ceremony at
Burning
Man.” She has
her acupuncture practice
to
recently expanded
includelocations in
both Manhattanand Brooklyn. She’s still danc-
ing—and
recently
even
fabulous in a
cat
saw
suit in
a
Peggy Cheng looking
self-produced piece
the Dance Now Festival. She regularly
Grossman ’95 and
WINTER
2014
at
Bobby
his beautiful dog, Maggie.
sees
in
are
their way.
to come
Karen
Schmeelk-Cone
encourage folks to
really
wants
to
Reunion! She’s still
to
come
herself for missing the last one. She’ll be
bringing her husband and Alex (10) and Isabelle
(7) and a pre-college level of alcohol tolerance
(unless she can get some more practice in). On FB,
she sees people up to a lot of cool things, but she’s
really looking forward to having actual conversations with people. And besides, Karen reminds
Amber
Shaw’s new
everyone, they’ll get to meet
husband and family.
kicking
Amber Shaw is
now
and thenback to France to
great tour
in touch!
74
and husband Joe
Calef
adopting. They completed their
home study over the summer
and were
recently
approved to adopt. Now they’re just waiting for
four, and Jasper, three.
Compulsive globetrotter Konstanze
Niedung
home in
submitted her update from her new
Frankfurt, Germany, where she works as a sales
associate for a software company and anticipates
business travel to Vienna, Zurich, Basel, Cologne,
and London. Koni enjoyed a four-weekvacation
with her mom
this summer,
drivingthrough seven
European countries, and she’s looking forward to
spending the holidays in Florida, where she also
has some
gigs as a singer. She hopes to see some
Vassar friends in NYC in January, but Koni also
a
to
the process of
married Scott Woods
“I’m
07020
LeydaMataJD@gmail.com
Leon
honeymoon
on
took them to
She is a stepmom to Scott’s
Kaeden, andKaetlyn.
Amber Woods—she
Jan. 25, 2014. Their
Paris, Rome, Venice,
see Normandy Beach.
three childrenKaeleb,
has been a city planner
Apex, NC, since 1999 and the
director of planning and community developDianne
Khin
Pickel
with the Town of
since 2007. She’s also
ment
a
citizen of the town
MacGregor Bauer), which is nicknamed the “Peak of Good Living.” Apex was
(as
is Kalani
ranked number nine on
end, though.”
Melissa Silberman
201.264.0209
nalism days, but is enjoying wine country and the
Bay Area with her husbandand two kids: Ava,
invites any Vassar alums to visit her in Frankfurt:
Road, Suite 32-184
646.535.3641
De
around in and your money doesn’t
run
much in London as it does in Leeds! Got
there in the
River
Edgewater, NJ
Ana
take this
thankall the Vassar classmates
as
Leydin Mata
fourth Rhino2Rhino album. If anyone wants
copies of the band’s second or third albums, Andy
Elona
them to
725
a
charge.
Street
22314
buy
from two
should have known better,” says Andy. He keeps
in close touch with Dominic Rivers ’94. In fact,
they’ve been jamming together in preparation for
free of
Alfred
katzindf@gmail.com
up with everyone I remember
decades past and meeting people I
happy to mail them off,
North
adorable pooches instead
two
(a five-year-old yellow Lab and a three-year-old
Japanese Spitz). “Love ’em to bits,” Susan says.
“But they made the house-hunting process a bit
more
challenging as I needed a big garden for
703.299.8519
“I
enjoyed catching
is
Katzin
Alexandria, VA
five-year-old
to know when she can
daughter wants
Darcy
and having fun blending her medical marketing
skills from DePuy (“I’ll never
think of surgery
in the same
again!”) with messaging
way ever
audience. No
and media aimed at a consumer
kids yet but
Newly appointed
20TH
REUNION
Green, Kara Frye Krauze, Tiffany Ford, and
their families.
Andy Harrington and his son also had a
terrific time
Kimberly McCreight
kim_mccreight@yahoo.com
a
new
DOE’s
planning, support and cultivation of
the solicitation of public funds and develop
a
department-wide
dollars. “Our
cultivate
a
coordination of
build deep instructional and fiscal alignment
for our
that utilizes all available resources
students. It’s
an
exciting new
post that
allows me to do what I love best, advocate
for students!”
Eddie
Gamarra
and wife Katrina and will be
on
campus in
early November for a
with Damon
Ross
and Michael Fanuele and their
families up in Ojai. “Hopefully, my four years
of tennis lessons will allow me to beat Mike and
Damon at least once!” Eddie says. People can also
check out the online Hollywood Journal where
blogs often. Eddie
piece about Hurricane Sandy and wanted
to give a big public thanks here as well to Cory
Lippiello and Cat Fitzgerald who helped him
Katrina andEddie contribute
a
wrote
and his family clear
out
Eddie says.
Myha Nguyen
Danner ’93 and are
than 400
more
bags of damaged goods.
“I
and husband Eric
still living in Cambridge,
Danner
annual
MA. He has worked in corporate
Money
for
started with 1,326 towns
nationwidein
financial, demographic, crime, employment, real
estate, education, health care, and quality of life.
“I’m so proud of my little town,” Dianne says,
“and my staff who work so hard every
the
ensure
Eric
high quality
Black
ran
a
of life
we
day to
enjoy here!”
successful Kickstarter
campaign (140 percent funded!) for his family
business, Lyla Tov Monsters. “A lot of Vassar
alums contributed to
“so
big thanks
time this issue
the success,” Eric says,
to everyone
comes
who helped.” By the
out, the Limited Edition
Monsters will be available for purchase on their
website: www.lylatov.com.
Susan
Marinakis
has been having fun
reconnecting with a wide range Vassar friends
via Facebook this
year. Still in the UK after
in London in
selling her successful restaurant
2006, getting her MBA from Wharton and
moving to the north of England (Leeds) for a
job with DePuy (the orthopedics division of
Johnson & Johnson), Susan has moved back
down to London. She’s now a UK Group Brand
lenses
Manager for ACUVUE reusable contact
garbage
them big-time!”
owe
Money Magazine’s
the small-town category (10,000-50,000
population), thenscreened out communities based on
club leader-
ship conference. They encourage everyone from
San Diego to Santa Barbara to reach out and let
them know what kinds of events they would like
to see.
They are excited to spend Thanksgiving
“100 Best Places in America to Live” list.
Magazine
public
says, “is to
consistent district-wide strategy to
goal,” Melissa
restructuring
than 15 years and is currently at Deloitte
CRG. Their biggest news
is the birth of their
more
daughter,
Lillian Coulter Yuen Danner, born
on
Dec. 13, 2012.
Zachary (three and a half years
old) adores his little sister, whomhe affectionately
calls “the littlepeanut.” Myha and Eric took the
kids to Bermuda this past spring to celebrate their
fifth wedding
anniversary. “Hard to believe five
years have passed since we got married there, in a
four-day celebration that is still a
bit blurry for us
and for many of our guests,” Myha says. “Oddly
enough, the wedding pictures were also blurry.
Needless to say, our recent trip with the kids was
somewhat less intoxicating (ahem).” Five years
kids later, parenthood has been, at times
exhilarating, hilarious, and exhausting, accord-
and two
to Myha. They look forward to catching up
their sleep when the kids go off to college.
As for me,
the paperback of my novel
out in December
Reconstructing Amelia comes
ing
on
and I
recently
got to
spend an incredibly fun long
weekend in New Orleans with Megan Crane,
Elena
Cara
Thomatos, and Tania Garcia.
Cragan
couldn’t make it this time, but was sorely missed.
Megan asks that anyone interested in helping out
with the reunion
ncrane.com.
contact
her
at
megan@mega-
Also, this will be my very last Class Notes
column. It’s been fun being back in touch with
everyone, and I look forward to
reading
more
and Leydin
about your adventures. Darcy Katzin
Mata
have generously offered to take over for me
beginning with the next issue.
in very sad news, classmate Heather
passed away in May 2013 of natu-
Finally,
Lynn
ral
Reisz
Heather worked most
causes.
recently
as
the
director of research at the Art Institute of Chicago
and began her career
at the Names Project—AlDS
Memorial
In lieu of
Quilt.
flowers,
donations
be made to the Harvard Square Homeless
Shelter. Our thoughts go out to Heather’s family
can
and friends.
Bronwen
95
Pardes
Garden, where she kept her “gardeners” up-toher progress, and we, in turn, posted
on
photos and stories, donated money for her
medical expenses and melanoma research, and
eventually, said good-bye. Throughout this time,
State Park. Vassar friends who
Sam
Nicole Acarino Smith ’95.
date
sense
“quaaludes,” and posted photos of herself
dancing down the hall to the operating room
as
for surgery.
In one
Facebook post, Sam said that if not
for her daughter, Indira, she might have accepted
the limited time she’d been given and bowed out
gracefully. But, as she often told both her gardeners
and her doctors, her goal was to be Indira’s
“mommy-on-Earth” for as long as possible. She
surpassed everyone’s expectations, living longer
than her doctors said she would, and celebrating
her 40th birthday
bronwen.pardes@
gmail.com
to
ten
writes: “After four years in
Scott Nelson
moved up to Silicon Valley (San
Jose) in mid-2012. We love it! I teach history
and economics at a Jewish high school in Palo
SoCal,
Alto,
we
(my wife) works part-time
at Stanford. Nessia (our five-year-old) just started
kindergarten, and Zev (three) will be following
and Josephine
in his sister’s
footsteps in a couple
NorCal suits
us
years. Life in
all really well. I regularly see
our
squash club, and I recentand Shirin over for dinner.
Shirin Kaufman at
ly had Nicky Barber
For
brief moment, we re-created our own
TA
party—good times. I look forward to reconnecta
with other Bay Area Vassar people now
that
escaped the Orange Curtain (sorry, Orange
County) for more propitious environs.”
ing
we
Sawyer writes; “I’m thrilled to
Adam
report that I married my
Mima Troncoso, at
a
long-time fiancee,
bilingual, intercultural,
and interfaith outdoor ceremony at Los Angeles’s
Temescal Canyon Gateway Park on June 30.
The Vassar guys represented in a big way, as we
honored to sharethe day with Sean Sacks
(accompanied by Marcy Goldberg Sacks), Matt
Ledesma
(accompanied by Natalie Lagomarcino
Ledesma), Eric McGlinchey (accompanied in
spirit by wife Carrie Drummond), Jonah Shaw
Sikha
(accompanied by Lauren Raba), Naresh
(Naresh —betterknown as ‘Rush’ in those days—-
spent freshman and sophomore year at Vassar
before transferring and was
accompanied by
Cooke.
his wife, Anna Malyala), and Brad
In
addition to gaining a beautiful wife that day, I
also became proud stepfather of Mima’s eightson,
Hector. The three of us live happily
with our goldfish, Sushi, alongside
Bakersfield, CA. I currently am an
a
lake in
assistant
professor of education for the Bard College
Master of Arts in Teaching Program (California
campus) and Mima is completing her doctoral
dissertation in public health at UCLA. As we
both advocate for immigrant populations in
our
work, we continue to hope and pray that
Congress gets its act together this year to pass,
at long last, the much needed comprehensive
immigration reform.
”
And
now
I have some
terribly
sad
Sam made clear thatshe wanted her funeral
be a celebration of life—she gave strict writ-
orders that those who attended were
to
wear
that is colorful, full of life, fanciful,
and/or humorous.” Melissa Morgenlander ’94
there, and writes: “I raided my kids’ dress-up
hesibox for a bright pink feather boa; I was
tant
to wear
it at first because it really did seem
disrespectful at a funeral... but whenI arrived,
I realized that I fit right in with the other guests.
Samantha also requested a Klezmer band to play
at her funeral, and her dying wish was
for all
was
of
us
to
do the hora around her casket. While
the teary crowd
gathered around, we all eventually started to smile and giggle. (It’s physically
impossible to be sad while dancing the hora, in
my opinion.) As I danced, I held the hands of an
uncle and a friend of hers from grad school. I realized that even in her death, she is making us smile
and come
together as a community. She was an
important friend to so many, and so many came
together that day to share her infectious sense
of humor.” If Sam could have been kept alive
by the sheer will of her loved ones alone, she’d
have outlived us all.
Brook
Gesser shared her first
Moshan
her freshman year
memory of Sam, who was
roommate:
“We went
to The Mug our
first night
of college with a pack of other freshmen, and
we
were
all
down and
WORM
dancing.
see
across
my
Next
new
thing
I
know,
I look
doing
roommate
THE
the dance floor. I remember look-
ing around—slightly embarrassed and extremely
impressed. I thought to myself, Who the hell IS
she? More than 20 years of friendship followed.
A few months ago, she helped me celebrate my
40th birthday. In so
manyways, she was the same
she was that night 100 years
surprising woman
ago at The Mug—uninhibited, irreverent, selfassured, exuberant, and gloriously goofy. Then
and
always.”
Brook is working
honoring
at Vassar. For more
information,
her at Brook.Gesser@gmail.com.
on
Sam’s memory
you can email
96
joined the festivi-
Guerrero, Jeff Dan,
McFarland, Nick Smith ’94 and
Kim
Andrea
Ivan
Zohn,
Pollack
with
wrote
of her
news
growing family. She and husband, Amyn
Zindani, welcomed their second baby girl
into the world on Aug. 23, 2013. Aria Aleyna
Zindani and mommy are doing well, aside from
a lack of sleep. Andrea is still
working for Shell
Trading Company in downtown Houston, TX.
Congratulations, Andrea and Amyn!
In 2010, Chotiya (Val) Sopjonpanich Ahuja
moved with her family from their hometown of
Bangkok, Thailand,
full-time mom
McLean, VA. Val is
to
theirnine-year-old
to
year-old daughter, and Ashvin is
a
and six-
son
economist at
an
the InternationalMonetary Fund in Washington,
DC. Val predicts that they will be in the U.S. for
least another few years.
Nadia
Lancy has been
at
self-described
a
“volunteer machine” this year. She helped plan
and execute
her neighborhood’s
tour
of homes,
volunteered for the latest Atlanta Streets Alive,
and took photographs for a charity gala. She
also traveled to Yellowstone with her father and
keeps busy with her side business, Nadia’s Lens
(find it on Facebook). Nadia’s next trip will be to
Southeast Asia for her 40th birthday in January.
She reports, “Life is good!”
Deborah
Kreiser-Francis
shared that her
debut young adult paranormal novel, Three
Wishes, is going to be published by Astraea
Press this
spring.
For the third consecutive
will be
year, Deborah
participating
in National
Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo),
books
hopes to have more
Congratulations, Deborah!
Amanda
Eisen
a
new
also
job
wrote
as
so
she
in the future.
out
with career
news.
director of corporate
partnerships with SOS Children’s Villages, an
international NGO that provides homes for
orphaned and abandoned children all over the
world. She reports, “The job is challenging, but
I am enjoying it and can’t think of a better cause
work for!” Amanda recently had drinks with
to
Ernie Capello, who is
sabbatical this year from
on
teaching at McCallister College and is writing a
book and living right up the street from Amanda.
She thanks Facebook for allowing them to reconnect! Nate
Biern
and his family visited Amanda
this past summer,
and they watched their kids
climb rocks together at Great Falls in Virginia.
Amanda is
grateful to
Emily Weisgrau for a fun
spring where she intro-
visit in Philadelphia last
duced Amanda and her family
to
sites like the
Please Touch Museum and the
Amanda’s
and is
ten
right
Anne
Ethan
She started
Rhoads
Magic Gardens.
daughter, Stella, just started kindergargoing through a major Blondie phase
now.
Dan
Eccher
is
preparing for the bar exam
(in
Maine) in July. If anyone has pointers, Dan says
he’d love to hear from you! Best of luck, Dan!
ARhoadsVC96@
gmail.com
Life here includes only small adventures, but it
Boris
humor, I might add). She invited friends to
join a private Facebook group called Samantha’s
great
a
Fourth Lake in New York’s Adirondack
were
Helen
news:
Karpel died on Sept. 22,
2013, of melanoma. A couple of years ago, Sam
announcedthatshe was sick on Facebook (with
Samantha
few weeks before her death.
“anything
were
year-old
seemed to lose her courage or her
of humor. She referred to her medication
never
ties
married Lesley Bernier in mid-
Russell
Andy
July on
As
the
of our
many of us enter
year
days, it is heartening to receive news
we’re still experiencing big life moments
adventures.
40th birth-
that shows
and
big
is
good. As I approach
a
better life than this one
the big 40,1 can’t imagine
with my Vassar sweet-
heart, Stephen (Jay) Goodman, our two healthy
happy kids, and our four-legged family. I
hope this finds you all equally content.
and
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
75
Idara
Melissa
97
DC
Elwyn
melissaelwyn@yahoo.com
Weeden
Amanda
Bloom
amandajweeden@
gmail.com
Hello, Class of ’97! It’s been a busy few months
of weddings, relocations, and babies for many
of our
classmates!
Christopherson and Christopher
attended Casey Caram’s marriage
at the St. Regis in Kauai, HI, on Aug.
ceremony
29, 2013. Jamie’s wife, Evie, and their daughJamie
Deutsch
also in attendance. Christopher
ter, Coda, were
writes that the wedding was
amazing and he
enjoyed spending quality time with Casey and
Jamie. Christopher adds that he just moved back
Chicago in August after living in Scottsdale for
the
past 15 years. Although he kept his house
in Arizona and will be traveling there often,
Christopher says that it is great being back in
his hometown and is looking forward to reconnecting with the Chicago Vassar community.
Jamie writes that he has just completed writing
music for a handful of projects, including the
video game Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and
to
the film Born to Race: Fast Track. He is also writ-
ing additional
music for
season
two
of the NBC
show Revolution.
writes to us from Kigali,
Ashley Best-Raiten
Rwanda, where her family resided this past fall
(2013). Her husband, Jesse, is working at two
hospitals in Kigali, and training Rwandan medical
through a project funded
by the Clinton Foundation. Ashley is working
with The Children’s Peace Library in Kicukiro,
where she is facilitating projects specializing in
such as English proficiency, literacy, and
areas
conflict resolution for students in grades three
through six. Her son Jack (five) is attending
school, and his little brother Henry (two) is
having a wonderful time running amok in Kigali.
Ashley and her family returned to Philadelphia
students and residents
in Dec. 2013.
Stephen
and his wife have moved
Bay, Wisconsin, where
Martin
from Tennessee to Green
position of professor of art
College. Stephen was admit-
his wife accepted
at
St. Norbert
practice law
be spending most
ted
to
a
to
of his days
at
expects
the local
has a new book coming out in
March 2014. It’s called What to Talk About, and
Colin
to Chris, it makes a great
hard surface upon which to write.
according
Tanikka
Price
living in the
kids,
and two
Ben
Haim
gift
Jerelyn Osoria
and Aiga Charles, and
Julien
according to Idara, both are doing well.
Litton
Vaccari
Babies, babies, babies! Melissa
and her husband, Roman, had their fourth baby,
Chiara Rose, Aug. 15, 2013. She joins Gianna
(age seven), Lorenzo (age five), and Santino (age
two). Melissa continues to work part-time as a
child neuropsychologist for the NYU Child Study
Center. She writes that she feels very blessed and
loves having a clan of four.
Flanders
Gretchen
and her
McGinnis
husbandwelcomed their third child, Aulay Sean,
in August. Big brother Finlay (seven) and big sister
Regan (four) are very excited about their new
baby brother, so far at least. Gretchenwrites that
she is enjoying her FMLA time off, but is actually
looking forward to going back to her job in the
health-care industry. Gretchenworks for a small
health plan serving Medicaid, and willbe moving
2014
in
fruitful job market!”
Carolyn Kiel started
North America last summer.
a
a new
job
She’s
BMW of
at
now
of gemstones in Renaissance medicine. And
he hosted 22 specialists, including two curators
from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in his
studio for a talk on his work and process as part
use
of the Association for the Study of
Jewelry &
Related Arts fall conference. Chris was
the restoration of
on
advise the curators
able
to
piece of
Georgian seed pearl and horsehair jewelry during
this visit. Chris happily sees Vassar friends and
a
clients in his midtown Manhattanstudio. Check
she doesn’t see too many Vassarites these days,
but with three little ones and a job, she doesn’t
out
see
Amanda
Watson-Boles
and her
Phalin
husband, Ben, just welcomed their first baby,
Eleanor Margaret Phalin, at the end of July 2013.
She is
a
happy, healthy girl, and they could not
be luckier!
Emily Wolper is
overjoyed
to
announce
daughter, Mischa Jade Wolper,
born June 29,2013, to the delight of family and
the birth of her
friends.
Thanksfor the
hearing from
updates! Looking forward
the next
you in
98
to
edition!
Sarah Parvis
186
South Oxford Street, #3
Brooklyn, NY
11217
917.754.6353
sarahparvis@yahoo.com
recently celebrated
Daryl
his website (www.chrisdaviesnewyork.com),
and make your appointment now!
After nine months in FEMA/Red Cross hous-
much of anyone!
too
and/or
Vassar, to The Ohio
nursing. Tanikka’s other
kids are 15, 12, and 6-year-old twins. Tanikka
is still practicing law in Columbus, OH, but
she also works as community health advocate
for Moms2B —an
organization that helps single
have healthy birth outcomes
inner-city moms
by
teaching healthand nutrition. Tanikka is looking forward to returning to The Ohio State U.
next
year to add a master’s of public health to
her JD degree.
WINTER
born at
major
next
into the exchange in Colorado. Gretchen says that
Freimark
Daryl.Freimark@gmail.com
is
ing, Jacqueline (nee Amanda Moffat) Lombard
happy to be settled back in Greenpoint,Brooklyn.
She is busy “rebuilding” her events business, traveling the country as a corporate chef for AUI
Fine Food, and taking on small private parties
in NYC. Jacqui
and wine tastings for customers
assisting Jay Lombard ’96 with his new
(www.maineoriginal.com), a premium, small-batch tea concentrate
is also
venture, Maine Original Tea
brewed and bottled in his home state of Maine.
MOT can be purchased at select Whole Foods
in Maine and Massachusetts, specialty stores in
Brooklyn. It is rolling out to NYC in 2014! Jacqui
recently had a mini-reunion with Mike Riggs ’99,
Emma Angevine Narvaez ’99 (who had recently had her second child, Madeline), and Jonty
Yamisha ’99 (who had just celebrated his first
wedding anniversary).
Yudin
Alanna
recently produced and edited
a film, The Kings ofBBQ Barbecue Kuwait, and
for her work, she just won
... drumroll please .
.. the Food Filmmaker of the Year award
“had a lovely, humidity-free Long Island wedding
Desai
with Athena
and her husband, Chris
was
hoping to relocate closer
for
year. Fingers crossed
developing employee-training programs. She’s also going
to school part-time to get her master’s degree in
organizational behavior at Fairleigh Dickinson
U., in Madison, NJ. Carolyn was also a judge for
the International Championship of High School
A Cappella (ICHSA) Mid-Atlantic semifinals in
Allendale, NJ. She shared, “It’s amazing to see
how much a cappella talent is already blossoming at the high school level!”
Jewelry designer Chris Davies recently created
a pair of custom
wedding rings for his first samesex
couple clients. He shared, “It’s wonderful
are
now
that men and women
coming to me to
a different kind
celebrate gay marriage! It was
of design challenge to thinkof how to honor the
idea of a traditional wedding ring while celebrating the unique energy that two men brought to
this design.” Last spring, Chris lectured for the
American Society of Jewelry Historians on the
versary. In addition to their son Benjamin, who
is three, Tanikka just sent her oldest daughter,
who
the East Coast
Idara, this organization is primarily focused on
building the capacity of local organizations while
providing organizational and development assisBefore working at the Counterpart, Idara
tance.
loved working in the Obama administration as
an appointee. Whilewith the administration, she
oversaw
all of the federal government’s national service programs, such as AmeriCorps, and
the country.
relished helping communities across
Idara writes that she mostly keeps in touch with
Last summer, Erika
State U., to
the U. of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I got my
to
visit his family and Puerto Rico for their anni-
Kalia,
at
PhD in 2012, and I’m
Laila (11) and Isaiah (8). Idara has been working the last 10 months for an internationalNGO
called Counterpart International. According to
five years of marriage to husbandGal Ben Haim.
In the past year, they have traveled to Israel to
76
husband, Jesse,
in Wisconsin and
courthouses.
Chris
is still
IMickelson
Umoh
with her
area
Diamond
and Roland Archer
Zegras, Amie Fishman, and Francesca Garson
Lisk ’99 and Danny Lisk ’OO in attendance.” The
happy couple lives in Brooklyn Heights. Erika
is the community solutions VP at Recyclebank.
She says, “I love being able to use all of those
environmental studies classes to build and run
a business and am
having lots of fun doing so.”
Congrats are in order for Megan Gannon.
novel, Cumberland, is being published
by Apprentice House in April 2014. She writes:
“Em pretty excited. Otherwise, I’m still teaching
Her first
at
the
2013 NYC Food Film Festival! Alanna reported:
“Our film screened on the opening night of the
festival, while four pitmasters, including the
director of the film, cooked Southern-style BBQ
brisket and chicken for all the moviegoers. The
film has been doing thefestival circuit and we are
currently seeking distribution . . . any takers?”
In other film news, Daryl Freimark
recently
wrapped shooting on the feature film Hell of a
View “starring Hunter Parish, Ashley Hinshaw,
Tim Daly, and Vassar’s very own
Jonathan
’99. The film tells the story of a young
chef in Atlantic City who is rebuilding his life
and family restaurant
in the wake of Hurricane
Togo
Sandy. Other Vassar alum working on the movie
includeKelley Van Dilla ’l2, Emily Ludolph ’l2,
Nicole Wood ’l2, and Tatiana Collet Apraxine
’13.” Daryl also produced Some Velvet Morning,
starring Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve, which hit
recently met with Alex Briscoe ’92, who directs
the Alameda County Health Services, and we
broke the ice by talking about Professor Diane
Harriford.” Any locals who would like to get in
touch with Dave, Jean, or any other classmates
theaters and video-on-demand in Dec. 2013.
should
And now,
to
Becca
Grad
Droller
for the baby news.
and her husband, Aaron, had a baby (their first)
is Hershel and Becca
on June 21,2013. His name
“We are head over
heels in love with him.
says:
We also
bought
a
house in Silver
Poughkeepsie,
Spring, MD, and
just moved in mid-October. Moving with a fourmonth-old has its challenges, but we are doing
great. We are so psyched to be a five-minute walk
Lisa Levy ’99.1 am still working partaway from
time as the cantorial soloist at Temple Isaiah in
Fulton, MD.” Matt Tracy his wife, Erika, have
been in sunny
future Vassar class of 2035.”
Sally-AnneMoringello
99
Cleveland
samoringello99@aium
to
introducing
her
are
to
Vassar friends
our
Believe it
or
15-year reunion is
not, folks, our
up in just a few months! It will be June
13-15—please note that this is a week later than
coming
(and
usual! You
can
had their
fourth child in Feb. 2013. Valentin Racecar has
that
his older sister to thankfor a middle name
reunion for
more
Brucks
Hosein
at
our
next
and
Jinnah
Hosein
happy,
a palindrome. Megana shares, “We are
busy, and loud over here in Menlo Park.” She
is
manages to sneak out of the house every
Smith
in a while to be in a rock band. Noah
even
once
“Harvey Atkinson Smith
born on
was
great addition to the
family. His big brothers Arlo and Gus (both three
years old now) seem
pretty happy to have him
the colds they’re
here and, if they ever get over
wrote:
Oct. 2, 2013, and he’s
constantly catching
at
a
preschool, they’ll
be
visit
alums.vassar.edu/programs/
information, to fill out a reunion
interest form (which helps with planning), or to
view a list of ’99ers who’ve already expressed
interest in attending. And now
to the news.
on
Traci
Richardson sent her inaugural Class
Notes submission (yay!) to sharethat after graduating in May 2012 from Mercy College with
a MS in
occupational therapy and passing her
boards a few months later, she is now
enjoying
a very rewarding career
working as a pediatric
occupational therapist with a wonderful NYC
organization. Great to hear, Traci!
Kentucky dweller Megan Marks
report-
allowed to hold him. It was
great fun to bring
the twins to Vassar for Reunion and see them
ed that she visited with Megan Lavoie
and husband Tom Novak
the summer,
over
the Vassar
running around campus. Arlo wore
shirt we got him to his first day of preschool,
which will seem
totally cosmic if he winds
2032.” Noah and his wife,
up in the class of
hoping to
Zoe (with
Amanda, are happy to be back on the East Coast,
in Philadelphia.
Alison
Green
is still living north of Boston
in the Merrimack Valley. She is busy “designing
hand-knitgarments and accessories, writing and
publishing knitting patterns, and doing technical editing of knitting patterns, which is all going
quite well.” In the fall, Alison helped Dan Golub
’OO celebrate his birthday in Brooklyn along
with Isaac Butler ’Ol and their lovely wives. She
also shared, “Pm hoping to meet Noah Smith’s
new
baby, Harvey, soon.
Harvey’s brothers,
twins Arlo and Gus, are
exceedingly cute!”
In his own
is up to
words, “Tobias Anderson
no
good.” (Tobias, we wouldn’t expect—or
accept—anything less.) He is raising a five- and
musician and pastor,
the waters
of the world”
seven-year-old, working as
and
generally “troubling
wherever he can, hoping
for those who come
build
a
to
a
make it
a
better
after. He says, “If I
can
place
learn
loft bed or for that matter, anything
at
all requiring power tools and a measuring tape,
world peace should be an achievable goal.”
David
Ries moved to the Bay Area and would
love to hear from any classmates who are in the
area.
to
He works at theHealth Plan of San Mateo
implement
health-carereform. His wife, Jean
Kaminsky ’99, is a consultantto
area
nonprofits
with The Olive Grove. Dave shares: “We’ve been
spending family time with another Vassar duo,
Rob Hope ’OO, and Sarah Shanley ’Ol, watch-
ing
our
four-year-old daughters play together.
I
Novak
and
thattheir daughter, Alexandra, is adorable; she’s
see
to
Michelle
Moor’s daughter
James). Megan’s really hoping
meet
soon
husband
lot of folks
a
Reunion! Ebony Rucker
at
chimed in to say that she has nothing to report
other than being excited to go to Reunion and
everyone come!!!”
“Please,
Melissa
latest
eled
Walker
book, Ashes
to
come
out
on
Ashes,
to
Klemm
Shinske
before
April Dawn
the Adirondacks for Noelle’s baby
shower. In September, my family and I visited
I got to
see
heading
say
that her
to
Razhba, who is doing well in South Jersey
enjoying her new-ish job as an attorney with
the state government. Also in September, I met
DCer (well, actual DCer, whereup with fellow
for
as I’m just a suburbanite) Stephanie Litos
after-work shopping and gossip; we chatsome
Rimma
and
bit about reunion planning,
chair, along with Emma
ted
a
is
reunion
Stephanie
as
Angevine
trekked
Narvaez.
In October, Evan Greenstein
from his home in Baltimore to my neck of the
woods (Fairfax County, VA) so we could make
a
long-overdueFriendly’s run. (We still miss the
Hooker Avenue Friendly’s!) A week or so after
that, Jenn Turner and I brought our husbands
a
and kids to the area’s
biggest fall festival for
some
autumnalfun.
You should be receiving reunion registration information soon.
Oh, and Jonty said he’s
“on a war path to raise funds for the school,” so
surprised
Reunion. Hope to
if you hear from him ahead of
see
there!
you
schedu-
was
Dec. 23, 2013. “Yes, it’s
young adult—l have not
17-year-old perception
moved
on
from my
space, and I’m not
sure
will.”
Avigail Schotz recently went back to school
to get her master’s in clinical psychology with
the goal of becoming a licensed therapist, but
I
too
don’t be
in to
wrote
thrilled and, though they
are
polite to say so, sick of me commenting
whom
on
every photo with my observations as to
the baby resembles.
As for me, I’ve seen a few ’99ers recently, but
not
as many
as usual. I’m slipping, I guess! In
August, I ventured to upstate New York, where
and husband George
Kevin
Aldridge
kealdridge99@alum
reunion.” Megana
the campus!)
Turner’s son,
first
REUNION
.vassar.edu
look forward
beautiful, and we
Jenn
And my former roomie Noelle
Carlozzi
had her
baby, Kieran Aidan, on Oct. 17, 2013. She
.vassar.edu
15TH
And now that we’re on the topic of babies...
Lathropians represent! Helen Christodoulou
reported that baby Nicholas Michael was
born on Jan. 10, 2013, “and hopefully part of
Finnegan Jack, was born on May 24,2013. Jenn
and her family moved from the Annapolis area
to Montgomery County (closer to DC, and me!)
in August, and Jenn has returned to work in the
Solicitor’s Office at the Department of the Interior.
hospitalist,
the world! She’s
to
write
or
NY 12603-2804.
Seattle since 2007. Matt works as
and reports: “On Oct. 9,2013, we
welcomed our first child, Madeline Eliane, into
a
AAVC at 845.437.5445
contact
the classmate, c/o AAVC, 161 College Avenue,
andhis wife, Jami, became the proud parents of
an
incredibly bright baby boy, Phoenix Django.
Wonderful news, Jonas!
ever
Nicole
Daigle Kuca
nightindaigle@yahoo.com
OO
Ellenor
Barish
ellenorann@yahoo.com
On Facebook: Vassar2ooo
is “still
doing TV here and there to fund life.”
She said being a student again is “terrifying and
Hello, friends!
wonderful” as she had not done homework since
Barish ’99 and I welcomed our
good ol’
1999. Good luck with that!
Brooklyn-based Zhenya Pinkusovich
Meanwhile,
Pozharny
busy transitioning from working for a large
hospital to building a solo private high-risk
obstetrics practice of her own.
It’s a challenging
task, according to Zhenya, but a fun one. Zhenya
is also raising “a spunky six-year-old daughter.”
is
broke his Class Notes silence
to report he is happily remarried and, a year into
his second go-around, still feels like he’s on his
Jonty Yamisha
honeymoon. Congrats, Jonty!
In addition to performing with Cirque du
Woolverton’s femaleSoleil’s Zumanity, Jonas
fronted alternative rock band Candy Warpop
released its debut album, Transdecadence, which
in Las Vegas and
Jonas said was making waves
on
the national music
scene.
And in June,Jonas
This has been
a
busy fall. Mike
third baby, Jesse,
on
big brother Max’s first day of second grade.
Big sister Anna started pre-K the following week.
Mike and I are shopping for a car with threerows
better ferry the kids and their friends all
so I can
over
seat!
town
—and so Anna can’t kick the driver’s
as life is, I am
always happy when
Busy
Class Notes time rolls around because I get to
learn about the wonderful things you are all up to.
Hannah
Bos
is back from a travel heavy
With writing partner Paul Thureen,
their play Blood Play at
Williamstown Theatre Festival and presented
summer.
she
performed
workshops of their
Rep
newest
and in London
at
work
at
Berkeley
the Almeida Theatre.
begin performing in the
Will Eno play at The
Pershing Square Signature Center.
In Feb. 2014, she will
world premiere of
a
new
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
77
received her PhD in linguistics
Kelly Berkson
from the U. of Kansas in May 2013, and writes
of her “heavenly” experience as a visiting faculty
position
at Indiana U. in
Bloomington:
the East Coast than Kansas
to
It’s closer
and Vassar is
was,
moving there, she has
with Wendy
been fortunate enough to connect
Bethel ’9l, Flora Cole ’O5, Gabriel Lubell ’O5,
far better represented! Since
Rachel Miller ’O5, Liz Elmi ’O6, Wade Munroe
’O9, and Casey Nemecek ’lO.
Anne Freiermuth
writes that she just got accepted to the Riordan Leadership Institute, which is
nearly yearlong training program for nonprofit board members. She is “so jazzed” about it!
a
Beletsky and his wife, Monica, recently
celebrated the sixth-month milestone since
Leo
the arrival of their
Aza Alexander. Leo
son,
continues to
teach at the Northeastern U.,
where he has a dual appointment with the law
school and college of health sciences. Monica
is raking time off from writing for NBC’s series
Parenthood
to
focus
freelance work and
on
to the
They will return
West Coast in May. Not long ago, they visited
NYC, where they crossed paths with Josh
Cohen
(who is back from a long stint in Europe
and Africa and is this close to finishing his PhD),
Jonathan
Schultz
(who is still writing for BBC.
com), and recently married Jen Wineman
(who
is still directing theater).
Heather
Griffith
and her husband, Sander,
daughter Pippa, and cat Parker left the ultrahip community of Prospect Heights Brooklyn,
of Berkeley
for the super-small, low-key town
Heights, NJ, and they are loving it. In Dec. 2013,
spend
Kawano, Jennifer (Scott) Simon, JeremySimon,
Bryan Keller ’Ol attended.
As I write, eight week-old Jesse is snuggled
and
against my chest in a sling. His happy sleep noises
like several of
are
a delightful soundtrack. It seems
and sighs first hand.
you know about those coos
and his wife, Nicole,
Geoffrey Jacobson
welcomed their son, Liam Charles, to the world
on
May 3, 2013.
Alison
Albeck
Lindland's
daughter Charlotte
was
born in July 2013. Alison, her husband Josh,
and her first child Anna Kristine and are adjusting
well to newly expanded family life. Anna Kristine
is already enjoying duties as a big sis. When
Alison is able to
get out of the house after work
she is very involved in leading the Vassar in tech,
which is for any student, alum, or faculty interin tech. Find them on meetup,
ested in careers
if you’re interested in attending an event or
com
getting involved!
time in Boston.
she celebrated 10 years as a research scientist with
the biotechnology company ImClone Systems
Incorporated,
now
a
wholly
owned subsidiary
of Eli Lilly.
Tapia and her husband, Gurnel, are
to North Carolina
move
Caridad
enjoying their recent
where Caridad works
with Axiom. They are
addition to the
as
a
negotiator
contract
also enjoying their
family, S.
Antonio
newest
Jean-Louis,
born in Oct. 2012.
Gabe
Rosenn
writes that he is still living
L.A., teaching/playing guitar, freelance editing, and now... surfing. He just competed in his
first surf competition—Haunted Heats in costume
no
less, as Poseidon. He has run into Carl Cade,
Mary Bresnan, and Alice Cutler ’99 recently
and is looking to reconnect
with other alums in
the L.A.
He remains in close contact
area.
Dimitrios
Kallus, Tommy Martin, and
Dave
Someday, therewill be no wedding
with
Lifshin.
are
getting a double dose of
baby noise. Their daughter, Emi, and their son,
Cadmus, were born on Oct. 24,2013.
Efstathiou ’Ol
Lauren
Bell
Josie Ehren
Felderman, born Sept. 3, 2013. Lauren writes,
“Big sister Elle was thrilled, and Ari was so excited to become a big brother.”
Thank you again for sharing so generously.
I truly look forward to receiving your emails.
As our reunion looms just a year an a half from
I anticipate a wonderful weekend of catchnow,
ing up with people who I might not even have
to have their friends and
changed my life in so many ways—how
I view people, the world. I felt like I could do
Vassar
thatlife
was
a
I grew up and saw
complicated, I did howev-
course
more
strong set of tools to
serve
me
a
01
Lauren
(cell)
laurenfkelly@gmail.com
Ethan
Borsuk
a
new
at homewith
Kelly and I took the
Poughkeepsie for the wedding of
baby, June,
Alex
and MaritzaNorr. We had such
blast. The couple walkeddown the aisle to “I
In Aug.
2013, Anne Scott DePage married
Joe DePage. The organ music of the tradition-
Anything but You” from Annie
which greatly pleased our
three-year-old,
Skye—then rowed a boat out to a tiny island
of a lake for their vows.
at the center
The vine-
al church ceremony reminded her of
yard
Deanna
Liz
Stickles-Bach
Delph and
Leslie
practice
Caccamese
listening
in Skinner.
were
at
the
wedding to help celebrate and supervise the pinata-smashing.
Jemma Hovance and Anne
married in Bristol, ME,
WINTER
2014
on
Russell
were
Sept. 21,2013. They
to
head up
California stores
our
three
on
separate occasions now.”
In October, Gwendolyn Saul
successfully
defended her dissertation in cultural anthropology at the U. of New Mexico and co-curated
a museum
exhibit, “Woven Stories” (featur-
ing Navajo textiles), at the Maxwell Museum
of Anthropology. Meanwhile, Rick Loverd
reports: “I’ve been living in L.A. since 2001
and working in Hollywood. I direct a nonprofit
the National Academy of Scientists
program of
the best scientists in the world
that connects
with writers, directors, producers, etc. I’ve
done work on over
725 projects including all
the Marvel films since Iron Man 2. We do
lots of events
as well, so any Vassar people in
L.A. should let
to
me
know if they
want
come
to
something.”
After
Crew
years at
seven
Cuts,
lan
Marks
started a new
job in late September at Ogilvy
as a staff video editor. Four days later—after an
Winters, Elizabeth
(Lizzy)
Armstrong, Margaret Martin, Jeff
Davis, and Tamara Cacchione ’O2. “We had an
amazing time and then went off to Big Sur, San
party were
Francisco,
Charlotte
and
Napa for
a
two-week
honey-
moon,” he cheers. “Now we’re looking for a
two-bedroom in Manhattan. No easy feat. . .
year of hardcore changes! Woo-hoo!”
Ellia
Bisker
updates: “I’ve been making
a
lot
while on
At the end of an incredible summer
up to
to
sent
Cole’s violin
ukulele, and vocals and Heather
(along with piano, bass, drums, and horns). Emily
Raw (Rawlings) ’9B helped produce an amazing
music video for the single ‘Be My Man.’ And
Flynn Kelly
202.236.8916
andyalbertson@gmail.com
family
Wong, Agatha Maciejewski ’Ol,
Sullivan.
Torres, and Jessica
Finnish design house Marimekko. “While any
to Finland has been postponed, I’ve been
trip
of music with Vassar connections. I’m getting
ready to release the third Sweet Soubrette album,
Burning City , which features my songwriting,
Be well!
in attendance including: Brad
Carolina
78
far
leave with
lifetime.”
er
our
Calvin
as the sap starts
to flow (but I’ll
syrup as soon
take pre-orders from anywhere in the country
now),” says Elisabeth, who is also working for
Tuckerman
the celebration. A number of Vassar alums were
Costello,
“It’ll be finished for this coming (2014) sugaring
and we’ll be producing wood-fired maple
season,
“It is hard to believe 13 years has passed since
I left Vassar, although there is no ‘leaving Vassar.’
Andy Albertson
Button, Shuvo
Dastidar, Abby Hannan, Margaret Mitchell,
Telia
Storey Friedewald, Four Hewes ’B5, Greg
Elisabeth
Schlussel
Hazelton
reports that
she and hubby Clint just purchased riverfront
property behind their home in Vermont, and
started construction on the Hazelton Sugarhouse.
elaborate proposal involving the Night Owls—
he wed Venessa Mendenhall on Oct. 4, 2013,
with a party that followed on Saturday. At the
announce-
family together for
and we squeezed in visits to campus and
nearby Sprout Creek Farm, where our former
Brooklyn neighbors Audrey Aponte ’OO andher
husband, Ryan, now live and work.
one,
known at Vassar but have gotten to know via
Class Notes. I thinklots of us can identify with
Griffith
what Heather
shared in her note, so I
will include it verbatim:
Audrey Aponte was married in Gray, ME, on
July 27, 2013. She and husband Ryan felt very
lucky
and husband
Felderman
David welcomed their third child,
in the Class Notes. Not this time!
ments
and Misa Numano-
Efstathiou
almost anything. Of
in
Jon
starting dating senior year at Vassar and were very
to
finally be able to get married. Kelley
excited
Don’t Need
party afterward
—
was
full of Vassar
grads:
Sara
Francis, Agatha Maciejewski, Chandler
Mayfield, Michael
O'Connor, Michael Ross,
Martin
Royle, Gregory Costello ’OO and his new
bride, Anna, Abby Hannan ’OO, Olivia Mancini
’OO, and John Newman ’OO. If I’m forgetting
so nice to see everyanyone, I apologize. It was
tour
in SanFrancisco with parlor rock
band Kotorino (of which Stefan Zeniuk ’O2 is
also a member), I ran into Jessica
McMackin
and her adorable baby in the Buffalo Exchange
dressing room!”
Wood
Speaking of babies, Sarah Hoffman
welcomed baby number four, Samuel, into her
family in March 2013. She continues to reside in
Charlotte, NC, and says, “I’m putting my educato work by educating my childrenat home.”
tion
Christine Lucas
gave birth to her second
son
this year and is
working as a post-doc at the U.
of the Republic of Uruguay and as an editorial
consultant.She lives in Montevideo andkeeps in
with Maggie Mateer
Pasquarelli, Ashley
Spicer Harrington, and Rena Sugita.
Electa
Behrens
writes: “I have a son, Wolfe
Riegels Behrens, born Nov. 30, 2012, and am
contact
doing well.
I
am
in
living
in
Exeter, UK,
with
Hahn
husband Robin Riegels. I visited Jennie
in Maine in August with her two
boys. My
sister, Anna Behrens ’O5, is now headed off to
had
sailboat with her partner,Ben!”
Will
Roberts
and Eva Lester
recently moved
from Phoenix to Omaha, where Will coordi-
JD
Antarctica on
a
opportunity
an
to
run
into
at the U.
he moved
to
the wedding
working
of program development with the Buffett Early
Childhood Fund. They are “pleasantly surprised
upstate New York, he is happy to
the “left” coast.
on
to
find
substantial VC alumni
a
the
presence in
Heartland.” And after living in Washington,
DC, Honolulu,
and
Dallas,
Britton
Haeuser
has settled in Denton, TX. “I left
teaching to be an administrator, now the head
of early childhood at a prep school,” she writes.
Blackwood
“My husband, John, and I had our second baby
girl last year, Lucia Mae. She joined four-year-old
Ellery Lin. John runs our casual seafood joint here
in Denton, Hoochie’s Oyster House. If you’re
in Denton, just north of Dallas, stop by!”
ever
Sri
Gordon
writes: “I just finished
my
third season
performing as Trixypop in The
Lombardi Case 1975, and am currently playing
Miss Sylvia Shade
Xtravaganza in The Murder
of Venus Xtravaganza 1988, the newest interactive murder mystery by LivelnTheatre. I
also just recently recorded a few commercial
voiceovers for Corvix, Birchbox, and Constant
Contact, and just wrapped the movie Eli
Moran. Keep an eye out for me on the cover
of the next issue of Scarlet, the comic by Alex
Maleev and Brian Michael Bendis. And final-
ly, if you’re in Bed-Stuy, stop by and see me on
Tuesday nights when I’m cooking at Sud Vino e
Cucina,
a
southern Italian restaurant.”
Chris Maryatt
02
1052
East
Seattle,
Thomas
WA
Street, #9
98102
206.790.8716
cmaryatt@gmail.com
Tamara
a
of Connecticut. A few years later,
Los Angeles. He recently attended
of Sarah From ’Ol and is currently
recruitment and retention efforts at the U.
of Nebraska Medical Center and Eva is director
nates
Christopher
few years ago at a law conference held at Yale.
At the time, Christopher was
completing his
a
as the anti-violence project manager at
local gay and lesbian center.
Originally from
now
be living
For a final Christopher paragraph, I turn
to
he was in
Christopher Oldi. This past summer,
a production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company
with BJ Markus ’OO. Coincidentally, Company
was
Cacchione
Middagh Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
917.862.2343
at Vassar as
a
that he did
not
freshman. (Christopher remembers
makethe cut for Company back
at Vassar with some
good-natured humor. Of
course, the rest of us remember thathe was in a
number of other fantastic productions through-
One of my favorite things about being a correspondent is that I get to make the first paragraph
the ChristopherMaryatt paragraph! As I write
column, I just finished having lunchwith Meg
research, specifically
cancer
to
organizations
to
performing
and to
in
a
local production of Ragtime,
performing again with BJ in January with
the
same
the
summer.
to see
organization he performed with over
Christopher may visit Seattle again
Justin
everyone to work in innovative and effective
ways. In Jan. 2014, PUSH publicly launched
Simplyßuilt, which is a website building-and-
people
to
visit
www.Simplyßuilt.com
to
sign
up.
Far away from Seattle
on
the East Coast,
reports that she is living in western
Massachusetts with her six-year-old son,
Rowan, and her three-year-old daughter, Stella.
Mariah
Leavitt
She is
Chorus, with
an
upcoming performance later in
old
to
college roommate
time. He is
Stefan Zeniuk
from time
using his music major to play in a
Gato Loco, which performs
professional band,
around the world. Additionally, Stefan married
Irene Carroll back on June 26,2010.1 also keep
in touch with Heather
moved
Dooley IMugget, who
to Portland, OR this spring. She attendwedding of Joanna
Sheers Seidenstein
on
Sept. 1,2013.
My second paragraph will be the
Christopher (Christina) Argyros paragraph. I
ed the
Berryhill ’Ol, Alison Janssen Dasho, Ellen
Green, Ada Montague ’O3, Brian
Prystowsky,
and Rose, herself.
I hope everyone had
That is all for now:
happy holidays and I look forward to hearing
from many more
of you soon!
Judy Lem
judy.lem@gmail.com
03
Heather
happily working in
the archives and specials
from
was
Massachusetts, Ben Kudler
planvisit to see his family in North Carolina,
where he also hoped to see Sarah Lowman.
from Massachusetts, Jonathan
Just over
Zacks
lives in NYC. He happily informed me
that hemarried Megan Harris-Linton on Aug. 31,
2013. The two
are
planning to change their
to HL-Zacks. Jonathan has also
legal last names
launched a startup called Goßeminders.com,
which is an appointment reminder service. He
added that he has been teaching programming
ning
on
a
the side to Finn
Axford
heatheryvon
ne.axford@
gmail.com
Anna
Murphy Startzell welcomed second daughIvy Jordan Startzell, on Oct. 20,2013. Thane,
big sister Virginia, and Anna all love her and are
doing well.
Tim
Reno
is living in Paris and working for
a think tank in Europe. He would like to give a
ter,
shout-out to fellow alum
traveled with him last
John
Smith.
To wrap up, I have a few othermiscellaneous
Dale Ratner
briefly indicated that he has
updates.
reconnected with Sarah Ackerman ’OO, and the
two
Bakaian
are
quite close. Amanda
recently
visited her grandmother this summer
and took a
fantastic photo of multiple generations of Vassar
graduates. She was wearing a sweatshirtJennie
who
Mclntosh
to
summer
also looking forward to the next
Schantz.
Changing gears away from people named
Christopher, I also had an opportunity to hear
from Justin recently. He reported great success:
PUSH, the interactive agency he co-founded in
2010, employs 20 people at press time, including
Benjamin Horst ’99. One of the things Justin’s
business prides itself on is its 100
percent distributed (virtual) working model, which enables
collections of Amherst College. Also hailing
the winter. She plans to return
to Amsterdam
this summer
for a 10-year reunion of her graduate class. Otherwise, I receive updates from my
West
in
Westchester County, NY. It was the first time
that Christopher had been singing and dancing
back onstage in almost 10 years; he wrote
that
it was
great. Christopher was looking forward
She just returned from Cuba, where she
had an exciting opportunity to see the country
firsthand and to meet with economic and political experts during her excursion there. Megan
is also currently singing in the Seattle Women’s
to
his time in college.) All the money they raised
from his production this summer
went
to breast
this
Rand.
word that a group of Vassar alumni traveled
Glacier, MT, this past summer
for the
mountain meadow matrimony of Vin D'Angelo
to Katie Yale. Happily in attendance were
Hunter
sent
out
ages
tkcacchione@gmail.com
Amanda Bakaian, and young Harrison Bakaian
(perhaps class of ’34?). Finally, Rose D’Angelo ’O5
of the first shows that he auditioned for
one
hosting platform that gives small businesses and
individuals the ability to easily build a professional, cloud-based website that looks great on
all of today’s electronic devices. Justin encour-
59
Ray had given her. In the photo were
Margaret
Skelly Goheen ’4l, Megan Goheen Lower ’72,
Corsica. Tim is
alumni reunion
in 2018!
Campbell-Langdellenjoyed
Melissa
time
seeing
some
a
great
Vassar folk in late October at
the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles for
Professor Bob Brigham’s talk on Syria and U.S.
international involvement.
Sarah
Rodems
went
to the L.A. Podcast
Festival in Santa Monica, CA, at the beginning of October. She laughed a lot, made new
in the Pacific Ocean for the
friends, and swam
first time. Sarah’s also started using
polish.
Lara
It’s
sparkly nail
really exciting in Minneapolis.
O'Toole and Denise
Hendlmyer were
legally married at a small ceremony in the Vassar
Chapel on Oct. 19,2013 before they returned to
their home in Austin, TX, for a larger wedding
andcelebration on Nov. 8. Mary Broydrick, Erika
Lubliner, Christy Gringel, Andrew Lynagh ’O2,
and Jordan Hill ’O4 were
all part of the fun.
Ada
Montague decided to go to law school,
after working as a planner for three years in
Bozeman, MT. She just finished the law degree
and is working part-time as a water
lawyer
all while finishing a
in Helena, MT. This was
joint degree through
the environmental stud-
ies program at the U. of Montana, with a focus
in watershed ecology. Although she missed our
class’s 10-yearreunion, she did have a mini-Vassar
reunion with Hunter Berryhill ’Ol, Ellen Green
’O2, and Brian Prystowsky
D’Angelo’s wedding to
Yale. It
tain
was
a
his
’O2 at ’O2
grad Vin
lovely bride,
Katie
get-down, get-out-of-town moun-
beauty of
an
event.
joined Swedish success
story
product communication manager.
Klarna creates
digital payment solutions and is
a part of a growing Swedish innovation and tech
hub that includes companies like Skype, Spotify,
Charlotta
Klarna
Asell
as
and Mojang. Charlotta invites us all to come visit!
Steve
Krivicich
and Benjamin Bernard
have
been going on weekly man
around Prospect
runs
Park in Brooklyn, NY.
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
79
Buckley got married and had
Jillian
a
premiere at the fabulous Vassar Club of
Washington, DC, Film Fest. Livin’ large!
recently saw Judy Lem,
Anthony Baldor
Lim
Jamie
in the East Bay
Keller, and Kristina
when Judy rounded them all up while she was
at
on
a business trip there. Judy is still working
KaBOOM! and has recently become interimchair
of the Vassar Club of Washington, DC.
Malik
Adnan
is based in Karachi, Pakistan,
film
earned
an
U. and
MLA in gastronomy from Boston
recently invited to contribute
The Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopedia ,
to
was
which will be
published by
04
10TH
where he has started up his own TV commercial, music video, and documentary production
REUNION
board
a
Pakistan,
Adnan has also promoted peace overtures
between Pakistan and India with the Exchange
for Change Program that has seen kids from
both sides of the border become pen pals and
visit each other in an act of soft diplomacy.
and Joe Debiec ’O2 welcomed
Casie
Smith
their daughter River Anne
on
June 24,
2013.
enjoying life together as a new family
They
in western
Massachusetts, where Casie is still
working at Hampshire College and enrolled in
are
doctoral program at UMass Amherst.
Emily Zucker
Koyfman and her husband
in
recently purchased their first home
a
...
“Does that officially
Poughkeepsie! Emily asks,
make
by
a
currently employed
Townies??” She is
us
toddler named Sam, who keeps
very active
her busy chasing after him in playgrounds and
parks all over the Hudson Valley. Sam is going
be three years old in March.
Chris
Fawley became Chris Maxwell Rose
to
she wed her partner Charlotte Mia Rose
seventh
anniversary
on
as
their
in October. Chris’s dear
friend (since being freshman year VC roommates!) Hillary Angelo was
the officiant, and
one
other dear friend was present as the witness.
The very
small,
very romantic and very untra-
ditional ceremony took
place overlooking
the
Hudson River.
Christen
thought that our
Cutter
the bomb! She had
was
an
reunion
incredible time
visiting with friends, being on campus again,
and—of course
—teaching yoga for our class!
Post Reunion, Christen experienced the devastating flood in Boulder and the surrounding
areas,
which kick-started her
move
with
Losing your whole
dwelling and most of your belongings has away
of
putting “new beginnings” into motion. They
recently moved into a charming apartment in
North Denver and love it! She’s still happily
massaging and yoga-ing and plans to infiltrate
the Denver market with her healing hands.
boyfriend John to
Isaac
Denver.
Scranton
Director of
a
nominated for Best
was
Short
Subject
in this year’s Midtown
InternationalTheatre Festival.
Ethan
announce
and his wife, Mia, are happy to
the birth of their son Zachary Joseph
Tavan
Howard Tavan. Zachary was
born on Sept. 17,
2013, just shy of nine pounds and with a full head
of hair, complete with blond highlights.
Penny
Skalnik
and partner Luke
(who
may remember from weekend visits
during our Vassar days) lived in London and
some
traveled all
over
the U.K. for
happily eloped in 2012,
graduated law school.
80
WINTER
2014
two
In
some
time.
They
weeks before he
May 2013, Penny
Lukens
6121-D
Summer
just
since
we
a
Bicknell
birthed
a
to
now
visiting her freshman roomie Krysia
working as a geomorphologist on
Skorko
—
the West
few months, it will be TEN YEARS
left Vassar. I hope you’ll be celebrat-
if you attend.
Many of us have recently relocated or started
new
jobs. Freshman-year roommates
Campbell
Parish
and Robert
Dean recently rekindled their
Vassar bromance by moving to Austin, TX,
together to pursue their dreams of dominating
the world of geek culture. In June, after nine
Jacob
Brooks-Harris
picked up
years in NYC,
and moved across
the
country to the City of
Angels to become managing director of experiential and event marketing agency MKG’s new
West Coast office. Jacob joined MKG on the
ground floor in 2005 as the second full-time
employee and has watched the firm grow to
than 65 full-time employees across
three
more
offices, and is thrilled to be bringing a little bit of
NYC attitude to L.A. Jacob is joined in L.A. by
his life partner, Milo the Chihuahua, and aside
from the green juice, the morning hikes, and a
newfound propensity for tank tops, he’s finding L.A. to be full of exciting and unexpected
surprises. In another long-distance move, Matt
Stempson moved back to Chicago in January
after leaving NYC for Berkeley in 2011. He’s
loving (mostly) experiencing seasons
again. He is
finishing up his second year at
Group, working for
Huron
Consulting
their health-carepractice
is
Gianico
enjoying
recent
a
promo-
academic affairs coordinator (“people
AAC ... like aaack!”) in the Department
tion to
ing this milestone by returning to charming
Poughkeepsie for Reunion! Here’s a teaser of
the great things you’ll learn about your classmates
and Robin Berg (who recently
future alumna). She is looking forward
Jessica
Jackie
Street
VassarNotes2oo4@gmail.com
In
News, she tries to keep up with Suzanne Shapiro
and her Manhattan-based TH-B1 housemates
Coast—soon!
Ashley
808.687.0087
viral in 2013. Adnan was also nominated an
Asia 21 Young Leader in 2012 and attended
the summit in Zhenjiang, China. As
Becky McGill-Wilkinson
VassarNotes2oo4@gmail.com
Honolulu, HI 96821
company called AMP (www.amp.com.pk). His
last music video, My Punjabi Love for You went
member of the Citizens Archive of
Alta Mira Press
in 2014.
Conner, who is a director at Fitz & Co., an arts
on
the regular. When she’s not pulling
a late shift like the old days at the Miscellany
PR firm,
call me
of Applied Linguistics at Penn State. She’s
also reminiscing about her time attending the
shadow cast of the Rocky HorrorPicture Show
at
Vassar
as
she
choreographs
Love and
Light
Productions’ live musical (no shadow cast
kiddos) of Rocky
Horror. After
MBA at the U. of
Michigan,
here
finishing her
Kate
Casolaro
moved to
Atlanta with her boyfriend, Rudy,
and now
works for Deloitte Consulting. Her
travels have taken her around the world and
she still makes time
such
visit with dear friends
to
Cheryl Crow,
as
Lillian
Merriam
Zwemer,
Natalia
Gonzalez, Ryan Koronowski, Nathan
Hall, and Jess Cicchino.
Liz Hara
has also been traveling a lot this
In June,she flew to Norway to perform
puppet show called SAGA with the group
to Italy
Wakka Wakka. From there she went
to participate in a screenwriting program, and
summer.
in
a
had
it
a
was
week
off
play (and eat)
to
in Rome. Then
Minnesota with another puppet
to
show staring
Brendan
Yi-Fu
Tay. In August,
a member of the
Artistic Direction Committee for the Puppeteers
she
in
was
Swarthmore, PA,
as
of America Festival, which had more
than 525
shows, and 60 workshops. Now
she’s back in NYC, working again on Sesame
Street. Today, she’s dressing chickens.
attendees,
28
A few ’o4ers have decided
one
can
never
Horton
is in the
many degrees. Joanna
midst of her arts in education master’s program
have too
at
Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. She
in
reports that autumn
Cambridge
is
beautiful,
which she appreciates especially now
that she’s
not teaching acting in much hotter Jacksonville,
and currently staffed in Madison, WI, during the
week. He has yet to meet a cheese curd he hasn’t
liked. Longest move
award for this issue goes to
FL. In
Bogajewicz who returned to L.A. to
dive headfirst into the music industry after four
years of working in/on television in Warsaw,
when things don’t go as they’d expected. After
working in the field of education for quite some
Brandon
Poland. He’s
working
now
therecord label
arm
at
Collective
Sounds,
of the music management
company The
graduate school, she is interested in mindful practices that sustain meaningful learning
in the
Conor Shankman
became tired of being
the solution and wanted to become part of the
problem. He is now in law school. Upon graduation, he will practice the kind of law that is least
recently
Modern Manicure, in collaboration with
at
Ryan Newbanks, the book’s editor at Prestel
Publishing. Look for this culturalhistory of nail
adornment in April. Suzanne says it’s been an
nonprofit
on
with
a
this mutual labor of love for
After years of toil
at
publishing,
Hanson
Sarah
dear friend
two
the intersection of
editor of Art & Auction
was
years.
art
and
named executive
magazine.
In this role,
she tries to shed some
light on the machinations
of the art market and is on the horn with Justin
people stay curious
time,
the music
Collective, and runs
magazine/blog The Burning Ear on the side.
Brandon says: “So I’m basically going to finally get rich in the music industry. Haven’t you
heard, it’s booming! Oh, wait....”
Suzanne
Shapiro is thrilledto be completing her first book, Nails: The Story of the
amazing experience working
and how
classroom,
ethical and most
profitable, perhaps defending
seal clubbers and
at
Dan
tar
sands. Also, Conor
Flynn’s
wedding, along
was
with
Cyrus Dowlatshahi, Nick Schretzman, Ashley
Colgate, Nate Fuller, Ethan Lobdell, and Aaron
Weeks ’O3. Conor writes: “The wedding was
It was
a hot springs in California.
spectacular.” After eight-plus years working at a
...
in Philly called The Food
Goldberg decided
is
to
head back
to
Trust, Laila
school and
pursuing an MBA at Northwestern U.’s
Kellogg School of Management.
There are lots of growing families among
’o4ers. After meeting at Vassar and dating
since sophomore year, Nicky Quinn
and Mike
Gevertz
were
married on July 13, 2013, at the
Loeb Boathouse Central Park. Julie Kurz ’O3,
now
Rebecca Newman ’O3, Victoria Bianculli Morales
Sara
married Chris Moore
Wolkowitz
on
’O3, Campbell Parish, Kate Fugett, Tony IMikolla,
all
Andrew
were
Belonsky, and Zoe Jackson
Averick
married to
was
in attendance. Lexie
Aug. 17, 2013, in NYC. Anna Kull officiated
the wedding, and she also introduced the couple
Matthew Thompson of Chattanooga, TN, on
Aug. 18, 2013, in Topsfield, MA. Suzanne
in attendance.
were
Shapiro and Maya Willner
Lexie is an interior design studio director at
Hewitt, Nicole
Gitau, Mary Beth Zanko, Russel
Kaplan, Elana Fishbein ’O4, and Sarah Schauben-
FERRER in NYC. She and her husband live in
in
Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Cecilia Durbin
novel, All Our Yesterdays, was published by
Disney-Hyperion (under the name Cristin Terrill)
this fall. Additionally, Katie Harmon
published
her first book in October, called Octopus! The
Most Mysterious Creature In the Sea (Penguin/
Current). It’s a rollicking adventure from the high
in an attempt
seas
to biology labs to restaurants
completed
her MFA at
now
Tisch, NYU, in May 2013, and is
freelance lighting designer in New York.
a
Craig Dalton
completed his PhD in geography
at the U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in
2012 and is now
a tenure-track faculty member at
Bloomsburg U. They celebratedtheir relationship
and Craig’s faculty health insurance by getting
married in Aug. 2013.
Amy Turr
moved into a
Emily Avery,
and is
more
Lubonski
and Andrew
house and had
Duncan
new
baby girl,
child,
in May 2013. She is theirfirst
beautiful every day! Jen Ferrara
and her husband, Mike, welcomed
their son, Christian Thomas, in July 2013. He
has a full head of hairand loves to chat and eat,
thus fitting in perfectly with Jen’s Italian family.
Rothenberg and her
husband, Stephen,
welcomed their first child, a baby boy name Theo,
in Feb. 2013. Jessica’s living in Brooklyn, writing
full-time, and happily covered in drool.
Jessica
each other! Also in attendance were
In the publishing
recently,
who
’99 moved out
Colorado
to
Courage
from Brooklyn in
early 2013.
This past
summer,
Julia
Weldon
by Saul Simon
MacWilliams
(Ingrid Michaelson,
Beasts of the Southern Wild ) and Adam Christgau
(Tegan & Sara, Sia) with drums on every track.
Julia also just finished playing CMJ, and her
first official music video
single
“Careful in the
exclusively premiered on the Village
blog site! Another album single “Meadow”
Dark”
was
featured in fellow Vassar alum Amy York
amazing new show, Little Horribles. After
on
the road.”
In other
Center. Peter also received his doctorate in politi-
graduating. Besides engaging
in
some
Alexei recently graduated
from Penn State with an MBA and is now working for Arkema in Philadelphia in a supply chain
role, handling
the
specialty
chemical
procure-
activities.
ment
By contrast, Peter Hazen has,
words, turned drifter, location unde-
in his own
termined. His
available
Sara
at
new
folk music and stories
are
married James Wolf on
5, 2013, in the Mad River
destination!)
school at the SUNY at
Oct.
(a great ski
in medical
Downstate Medical Center
in Vermont.
Valley
They met
where they both graduated in May 2012. They
are
completing their residencies in psychiatry and
anesthesia, respectively,
at
the U. of Vermont.
Further up north, Liz Graves had to actually learn
the rules of American football for a new
job this
year: reporter for the
Harbor, ME. She covers
weekly
newspaper in Bar
sports, the lobster industry and other commercial fisheries, and the many
boat builders on Mount Desert Island. She’s been
living there since 2010, andhas also become one
of two
female volunteer firefighters in Bar Harbor.
Hoping
help
discover
jobs they
love and to become more
career-ready, Lauren
Weinstein
Silverstein started a nonprofit
program, Jr. Apprentice. Her partner-in-crime is
Justin Taylor ’O6, an 11th- and 12th-grade social
studies teacher in the Hartford, CT, high school
where Jr. Apprentice recently launched. Lauren
to
teens
cal science from Georgetown U. and is working
at the terrorism research center
at the U. of
Maryland.
Chaikin
has been enjoying her
Alexandra
nonprofit digital media job in Washington, DC.
She recently caught up with her fellow Vassar
alumsTom Bachman
and Freya Irani when they
visited from the U.K. Alexandraalso
www.peterhazen.com.
Pawlowski
writes, “It has been great to have so much support
and guidance from fellow VC alums—checkout
JrApprentice.org to learn more.”
Vassar in NYC!
Singer and Alexis
David
also continue
Platis
to live in NYC with their pup, Max. They recently
visited Vassar and
enjoyed every moment
aroundthe campus and reliving
some
walking
of thebest
years of their lives. That being said, they did feel
students. Alexis is
to the current
a bit old next
has ditched San
grateful that Raphaella Bennin
released her
first fully produced 12-track indie-folk pop LP
called Light Is a Ghost. The album is produced
at Vassar
thoughtful reminiscing,
Chicago, France, Singapore, and Thailand. He
looking forward to getting re-engaged with
is
just wishes Laura Sproch would do the same!
Bringing up the rear, Max Cohen continues
to cook and eat shramp, a close southern-relative
of shrimp.
2013. She and Dave
Writing
believe we’re getting close to being 10 years out
of Vassar; it seems
like just yesterday we all were
can
somehow (finally) found his way back to New
York after spending his time since graduation in
also featured in The Best American Science and
Henne
post-summer news, Peter
in August to Caroline Crouch. The
married
got
couple met while working at the Pew Research
out
role as
a new
director of disaster programs for The Volunteer
Center of United
Way. And Vivek Mahapatra has
Francisco for NYC for the foreseeable future; she
Vassar faces
pointed
living
completing an MA in music and music education
in May 2014, Julia will be touring extensively
the U.S. and hopes to see “TONS of sweet
across
Margaux Knee
VassarClass2oos@
Main
is
Moor
Rubin’s
Clark
gmail.com
As Alexei
Cristin
the Lower/Mid Hudson
Valley. As of
Nov. 1, 2013, he transitioned to
understand the elusive octopus. Her work was
to
was
05
world,
DC, and her first young adult
Washington,
Voice
Philip
Caroline
Fuerst ’O4.
Nature
Duncan
a
to
throughout
Bergman on an amazing visit to a roller coaster park in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania and
she has been rediscovering DC with Jen Kali us,
DC resident and art teacher. Alex occasionnew
ally stalks her other classmates on Facebook
beware (she’s online every day “for work”).
so
Pedro
Rodriguez writes in, “The dude and
duddettes of A4 had a record number of bond-
ing trips this year!” After spring break together,
they flew down to Miami over the July 4th weekend for Kirsten
Naito’s bachelorette weekend,
before her September wedding to Wesleyan grad
Meriel Darzen. In between those dates, Jasmine
defended her PhD dissertation
post at Wake Forest U. Sarah
Harris-LaMothe
and started a
new
Griffin demonstrated her skills at the start
three of medical school
tion while Pedro
effort to
Annaiisa
return
to
Adams
during
joined People
his roots.
is hard
of year
her surgery rotaen
Espahol
in
an
On the West Coast,
at
06
work teaching the
vassarclassof2oo6@
gmail.com
Greetings, Class of
2006! Thanks to everyone
who submitted. We’ve
From the world of
is
doing
Marvar
fourth annual 0+ Festival of
demand response company in Boston. She sees
Austin
Brayton around her neighborhood and
’O9 every
Sunday. She
also sang with Boston Baroque in November.
Lauren
Spencer is currently in rehearsal for
Troilus and Cressida with Impact Theater and
of Rob Handel’s A Maze
preparing for a remount
with Just Theater, which was first developed at
the Powerhouse Theater Training Program at
Vassar. Lauren reports that she recently caught
up
with Kait
California.
the summer
Manning
Brandon
’O7 who
just moved
to
Costelloe-Kuehn spent
Institute earning a certifi-
at Omega
ecological design, which is very handy for
teaching his design students at RPI this semester. Brandon is also launching the Institute for
Regenerative Learning, andwould love interested
cate
in
VC alumni to get involved. The institute
weaves
together experiential education, social entrepreneurship, and cooperative economic models and
regenerative science and design around sustainable food systems.
Some of our
classmates loved Vassar
other fine institutions. Lara
work for the American Red Cross
and music in
NY. She is also
Morales
is
Locally (for me at least) Damian
living in the Hudson Valley and has spent
the past 10 months doing post-Sandy disasrecovery
art
working on a short film
about clowns in the Amazon, which was successfully funded on Kickstarter. Josh Baum is still in
Massachusetts working as a multimedia
western
he
specialist at Amherst College. This summer,
participated in CATWALK, an artist residency
hosted by Purcell Scheu Palmer ‘62 at her historic
property on the Hudson River. While inresidence,
Josh created long-exposure photo-animations of
the majestic surrounding landscapes. He is also
finishing a new Super 8 film. Hilary Anne Walker
is still performing and working at an awesome
Kingston,
thatthey’ve continued to
ter
news:
the class of 2006
work,
pretty creative and artistic jobs.
just finished co-organizing the
some
Alexandra
got lots of exciting
children of San Francisco how to rock at life!”
still
Kupershlak
Kaeser
sings with Nick Heber
Artis
saw
Jennifer Dilorio
Elizabeth
graduated with her PhD
U. of
Maryland
continue
living
so
much
expand their minds at
in art
Yeager-Crasselt
history from the
this past May. She’s happy to
Washington, DC, with her
in
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
81
husband, Jost Crasselt, where she’s serving as
a lecturer of art
history at the Catholic U. of
Newman
is in his final year
Drexel U.’s MPH program, majoring in epide-
America. Jonathan
at
miology. His master’s thesis will focus on cancer
survivorship and participant retention in clinical interventions. Jonathan is currently interning
at the U. of Pennsylvania’s Center for Clinical
Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Many of our classmates are enjoying minireunions in the form of weddings! Gretchen
Colby Rode was married on Aug, 25, 2013 to
Jill Rode in Minneapolis, MN. The couple is
living in St Paul, MN, as both are studying to
be Lutheran pastors at Luther Seminary. Jenni
Brown
Friedman
and
from New York
out
to
Brannon
Ernest
Kiehne
girl and boy
to
both live in the same
building in Bed-Stuy, along
with Taylor Levy ’OS so have lots of support raisand her
ing their little ones. Anna Gier Pfaehler
husband, David, welcomed a baby girl, Brett
Dilorio
Annamarie, on July 24, 2013. Jennifer
Kupershlak hosted a beautiful baby shower,
which was
attended by fellow Vassar grads
Elizabeth
Kaeser, Jessica
Copperman, Kelsey
Aarnes.
Mahony, and Emma
Woods, Justin
Share your news
of your village or tell us
attended your wedding in the
how many swans
edition of Vassar News. Email
next
(Schorr Beaufait)
also in attendance. Maura
is thrilled to report her recent marriage
in Whately, MA. Leigh Johnson
gave a fabulous
were
vassarclassof2oo6@gmail.com.
ed
wedding, which was
07
Liz Sequenzia Hibino, Yael
Granot,
Wilson, Rachel
McCormick, Robin
Burger ’O7, Erika Rumbley ’O7, and Liz Bennett
’95. Maura and her new
husband, Aidan, are
by
enjoying married life
married in Old
was
in Boston. Alice
Saybrook, CT,
Caesar. Guests included: Sarah
to
Yasinski
introduced the couple), Carla Pisarro ’OS,
She
graduated from
Hamzah
new
Saif,
Roasters, recently got married to Brett Leeper
in Waitsfield, VT. The couple celebrated with
several Vassar friends, including Emma
Mrozicki,
Of
Squires, Annie
Kushner, and
Falcone.
it’s
course,
always fun
versaries. Anine (Nini) Booth
to
celebrate anniis still living in
Brooklyn, NYwith her husband, Dave Gray ’O3.
They celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in
June, which made her feel really old! She desperately misses having all her favorite people around
and Jen Cormano are too
her, Katy Krauland
far
away living in L.A., but she’s thankful Yael
is still in NYC for fabulousbrunches and
she’s glad Emily Burton
is only a short ride
away
in Boston. Nini is proud to have finally
completed her master’s degree in animal behavior and
Granot
conservation and to be presenting her work at
a
therapy conference in November.
Michael
Gillen
is currently planning his
and
needs your help. He wonders how
wedding
to have at the ceremony. He writes,
many swans
“Is one
hundred too few? Too many? Vassar
never
prepared me for this!”
They say it takes a village, and Vassar grads
make excellent villagers. Dane
Pflueger was
Galetto
and
delighted to learn that Francesco
pet
82
WINTER
2014
he’s
a
San Diego,
a
first year associate in the School Law Practice
Group at Shipman & Goodwin LLP. Eliza Dodd
Leeper, who works for Green Mountain Coffee
Dunham
me
that 2013
be
supposed to
was
year of transformation. With that in mind, I
asked my fellow ’o7ers to answer
the following
a
now
In
and Nick
Lehmann
celebrated with Jessica in
June. Charlotte Jenks Lewis ’Ol photographed
the wedding. Jessica reports that she is living
in New Haven, but working in Hartford as a
Rachel
Someone told
To begin, Alex Burke
he is married. He used
Emma
dance,
say!
single, now
to
used to be
be a bachelor of arts,
of science. He used to live in
he lives inBoston. He used to be
He used to
he’s a business owner.
could take her up on that, considering she
just wrapped her indie film June Adrift, which is
Moore
Christine’s fellow cineaste Diana
Wright is
now
writing for the Simpsons Tapped Out iPad
game. She’s also working on getting a film noir
spoof called Donnie Brock
she’s
an
urban social worker focused
on
youth and family mental health in grad school
in Oakland!
Bari Turetzky used to be
nonprofits
a
and NGOs, but now
grant writer for
she’s finishing
her master’s degree in occupational science and
occupational therapy to work with individuals
who have experienced traumatic brain injury
other neurological conditions.
or
used to be playing in
Emily Cogswell Strand
the sun and earning a nice-sized paycheck raismoney for faculty and graduate students at
UCLA. Now she’s bundling up against the cold
ing
as
a
graduate student on thePhD
track at the U.
of Wisconsin-Madison, hoping someone
elsewill
raise money for her own
research on online relationships and identity construction.
Other academicians include Laura
Tillman,
who got her MFA in creative nonfiction from
She also
Goucher College this summer.
got to
visit Ali
Matthews in Wales and hike togethalong the cliffs of Aberystwyth. “It was
pretty magical.”
Isella
Ramirez
is starting her second year
at UCLA’s master’s in urban and regional planning and aims to finish next June. During the
she hung out with David
Mata
(who
summer,
continues to be an amazing history teacher) and
Victor
Monterrosa
Jr. (who is
starting his third
year of law school) and also saw a lot of Rebecca
Fernandez
(who recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl!) She was
also selected as a 2013
Switzer Fellow. Fancy!
er
in the Hudson
Elder
was
Valley, where Adam
Hope and her husband are
Temkin
living and working in NYC. Deborah
Cahill
married Bryan Cahill (GWU ’O4) on Oct.
the
of honor.
man
served
Balent
as
of honor and
man
bridesGentile were
Amy Cheng and Jessica
maids. Also in attendancewas Tyler Crosby. Kelly
Peterman
Deb’s
Winck
nuptials,
wishes she could have attended
but she and her husband were
busy becoming proud parents to a little girl,
Josephine, born on Oct. 1. Finally, Andrew
Birkhead
tied the double knot with his wife,
Kate,
this time in front of family in friends down in
too
Greta
fellow classmates
education, but now he’s living
inL.A. starting a new
job in university advancewith Claremont Graduate U. Also, he and
ment
his partner adopted Herschel, the best puppy ever.
Hannah
Mason
used to be a crunchy tree
hugger focused on sustainability in college, but
Waymouth
Chu-Richardson ’O9 got married on
tied the knot
17! On Sept. 1, Hope Crocker
Ting
New Orleans. The
his master’s in
PI in Knock Knock
Who’s Dead produced.
In our wedding bells section, Dave
master
teacher, now
now
in post-production.
currently
now
have long hair, and now he does not.
Jeffrey King used to be in Nashvilleworking
on
original music for your film, play,
etc.! Perhaps Christine
installation,
art
5. Alvan
Joshua
(who
College of
Medicine and started her residency in psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill
Cornell Medical Center/Payne Whitney. Jessica
Stein
Soufer
recently got married to Aaron
Soufer (he went to Brown, but no one is perfect).
Elizabeth
Temkin
prompt: “I used to be, but now.” Let’s hearwhat
our
caterpillars turned butterflies have to
Drexel U.
Amandeep Kalsi, AkshayAiyer,
A.
detemkin@gmail.com
Dodds
Wilk, Kat Edmondson, and Nina Kishore.
addition to getting married, Alice has a
job.
Deborah
Marvin
at the
her if you need
Aug.
Abby Loomis
abby.loominator@gmail.com
also attend-
Colin
just started studying sound
Yale School of Drama, and Diana
Hill is in her second year of graduate school for
music composition—so feel free to reach out to
Kate
design
and
Ackerman
the
at
be in the bridal party.
Regan, Meghan Farrington, Rigel
Byrum-Ridge Bloome, and Nate Brown ’O4
at
us
flew
Woods
Michael
speech
have recently welcomed a baby
their respective families. They
attended
wedding was
Evan
by
Casper-Futterman,RK
Walker, Jeannette
Estruth, Anna
and Ryan Pratt among others.
Moot-Levin,
’o7ers
also moving and shaking in
are
professional world. Jordan
Cooper is a
Democratic Candidate for Delegate of District
16 in the Maryland General Assembly. More
the
be learned about the campaign at www
.CooperForMaryland.com.
Apart from raising her lovely babies Emma
Grace (April 2010) and Liam James (Feb. 2013),
can
Nomi
Murphy started work as a freelance translator and is doing the occasional private English
lesson to round out
her
WORK-at-home-
What to do with an English major? Why
become a wildlife filmmaker? Without any
not
experience whatsoever,
a
new
status.
mom
film company and is
for explore.org,
a
Parziale
started
working full-time
branch of the Annenberg
Foundation that has
50 live streaming
Janine
a
now
network of
looking
more
than
everything
from puffins, pandas, and polar bears to bison,
brown bears, and belugas. Says Janine: “Vassar
taught me how to adapt to whatever opportunity
cameras
my way, and gave
comes
me
a
at
strong founda-
tion of
independent thinking. I am so grateful
for those lessons that I apply to each and every
adventurous day.”
is welcoming Molly StewartPhillip Camhi
Cohn ’OB to Brooklyn and also accepted a job
as
attorney development coordinator at Skadden
He’s also converted half of his NYC apart-
Arps.
in to
ment
at
seen
a jewelry studio and his work
LemieuxMetal on Etsy.
can
be
Scranton
and her partner, David,
still in Lima, Peru, where they are about to
launchtheir third coffee shop! She also had a
Hannah
are
time at Marissa
Wiley’s wedding to her
lovely wife, Alysa Koloms, in Brooklyn last
month, where they got to catch up with fellow
sweet
’o9er Ren
Jerald
Pepitone.
Isseks
is still
teaching
in
Queens, and
he’s been playing a lot of chess weeknights in
Brooklyn with John Murchison ’O9.
Finally, Jer’s old Frisbee teammate
Judy
Jarvis
is holding things down at Vassar, loving
being director of the LGBTQ Center and the
Women’s Center. One of the things she’s most
enjoying working on is launching the Vassar
LGBTQ oral history project. In her non-work
life, she’s happy to report thather NYC women’s
ultimateFrisbee team, Bent, made it to Nationals,
where she played alongside teammate
Brittany
Kaplan ’O9.
this November.
There have been a lot of recent
graduations
well. Cat Foley graduated in Dec. 2012 with
her master’s of public administration from the
Hughes
Hayley Tsukayama
Vassar2ooB@gmail.com
spring of 2005, Chloe
Gutelle
Maxwell School at
Syracuse
U. and her master’s
of environmentalscience from SUNY-ESF. After
T.
came
writes that the law
R. (Torrie) Williams
Kristin
Woods, Kaia RossDuggan, Nicole
Lauren
Shores, and Ashley Richardson
’O7 (shout-out to AngelicSosa for the awesome
sophomore year —
up with a tagline for our
“never a dull moment.” It really captured the
Savage,
spirit of all four years at Vassar, and now it seems
like it captures the spirit of our
lives, too. As
always, the class of 2008 is staying busy. We’re
adventuring around the world, going to graduate
school, and advancing in our careers.
graduation care package.) To date, Torrie is working full-time, back home in Milwaukee, WI, as a
staff attorney for Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee,
Inc. Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm that specializes in civil litigation for those at or below the
As for the
grad-school update . . .
Kate
is in her second year at NYU Tisch’s
Graduate Acting Program. Her dad likes to
poverty line in Milwaukee.
Abbruzzese
jokingly pretend that he’s under the belief she’s
attending NYU for dentistry.
is living in South Philly and
Dylan Gottlieb
American
working on a PhD (still) on recent
urban cultural history at Princeton. Also on the
PhD front, Allison
Edgren is in Germany to do
research for her dissertation on begging in late
medieval Germany. And soon
to be on the PhD
front, Angelic Sosa is still enjoying the up-anddown weather in San Francisco and starting the
search for potential PhD programs in the coming
if
years. Also, she says she’s the one to contact
to throw mini-reunions around
any ’oBers want
the country! (In general, we think mini-reunions
need to happen
often, too.)
more
Forgue is teaching Spanish at a private
boarding school in Connecticut while workJill
ing on her master’s in Spanish at Middlebury
College and planning to travel to Buenos Aires
this
summer.
In addition to
grad school,
Tara
Klein
has so
many jobs! Good thing she loves them. She writes
that she’s still in grad school for urban policy in
Danielle
Goldie
Harvard’s Graduate School of Education this
spring, and she is in her first year of teaching as an eighth-grade math/science teacher in
Lowell, MA. Danielle writes, “I’m loving it!
past
”
Katie
five-year
Science
has been chosen to receive a
teaching fellowship from the Knowles
Unruhe
yet. Good luck!
report and did
Meanwhile, outside of academia, our classare
doing some wonderful things as well.
Peter
Papachronopolous is excited to keep
working on his show that was renewed for a
second season.
Also, he’s been working on a
screenplay with Christina Slater Lee for a while,
and a few production companies are showing
Becca
Liss
Paperless
Steve
is
living
Post.
Madeja is living in Harlem,
a leadeditor at a webcasting/market-
the time of her life, enjoying the sunshine, and
completing grad school at Stanford. It was like
assistant
on
epidemiological research stud-
two
ies and interning at the Environmental Law and
Policy
Bill
Center in
Kloth
Chicago.
is still in DC
working down in
Quantico, VA, in the exciting world of Marine
Corps acquisitions. Although he’s still in uniform,
he’s also getting an MBA from Georgetown in his
free time, and he plans to finish in 2015, which
will just be in time for me to move
to his next
duty station, hopefully someplace not too hot
or
too
cold.
Elizabeth
ing
writes that she is still
gmail.com
Fley, kids!
college for
this summer
all return
Guess what? We’ve been out
FIVE YEARS. Which
of
that
means
(June 13-15, precisely), you will
for some Soul Dog, tears of
joy/despair with your friends, and thatlate-night
Mug hookup that should have been. Thinking
about not coming? We know, not coming is not
even
an
option. Crazy talk. Wrecking ball. So,
pull up your bootstraps, look “heteronormative”
to Po-town
up in the dictionary, and ride the Metro North
to 124 Raymond Avenue in June. We’ll see you
there. Love, Hannahand Noah. PS. Your favor-
correspondents have officially failed to
submit a real columnbecause they’re, like, “busy”
or
whatever, which means
they are voluntarily
being kicked out of the post. Always wanted to
write the best column in the Vassar Quarterly
(even though it only comes out threetimes a year
now)? Tell us. We’ll even give you the password to
the vassarclass2oo9@gmail.com account.
Morgan Burns
10
In
Madeleine
Joyce
vassar2olonotes@
gmail.com
effort
to
Chang recently flew to California
visit Dorothy Walter ’O7 where she’s having
the old times—hanging
at
ACDC
except that
save
time this quarter, the 2010
Lefkowitz started medical school in
the fall at Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
and is living in the Bronx.
Gregori is finally
a
full-time librarian
in her beloved all-boys middle school. To conduct
how many
a sociological study, Danielle, note
copies of Catcher in the Rye go missing per year.
George (Ges) Adams
graduated from law
school in last spring, took the bar during the
and started working at Shearman &
summer,
Sterling LLP
Amrita
Annie
to
an
correspondents did not solicit updates by email,
and instead sought help from the U.S. government.
Presented below are updates according to
what the NSA has gathered on the class of 2010.
company.
to
in the fall.
Kundu
and
Will
Nyasha
Wilkoff moved
Hannah
Berlin, and joined the
Ice
Zichawo
Capades.
is
having
a
great
time at Yale Law School. If anyone asks, he
is not, and has never
been a member of Skull
and Bones.
like professors than the underthey felt more
grad students. Annie is still working for Samsung
Scott
Pascal
finished his third year of medical
school at the U. of Massachusetts in Worcester. He
Cheil Industries in their chief administrative staff
is
division. She loves the perks of her
spending
a
year
working in medical research.
job like dining
at cool places and exploring the city. In addition,
she is collaborating with a team of talented young
Asians to develop her own city guide app. Jason
year (yay, jobs that don’t have end dates!) as the
assistant to the CEO and co-founder of City Year,
Wu ’O7 and his
She loves
her hooked onto
Gadomski
Ewert-Krocker
vassarclass2oo9@
REUNION
Danielle
in good ol’
School of Medicine at Northwestern U.
an
Fowler
Hannah
5TH
in NYC and Boston.
working as
as
09
Aaron
Lidiya Yankovskaya is conducting a new
ballet set in cyberspace as well as lots of opera
work, and then she just got a job
And, if that’s not enough,
she’s a TA for a class, too.
Katherine
Wolf is working at the Feinberg
in politics.
working
raise
for charity this summer.
Noah
interest in it!
some
construction
Mongolia in a comically small Fiat Panda to
mates
at
a
She fully intends to push Vassar on her student.
And, Charla found herselfback in Bangkok after
the Mongol Rally, a journey from England to
writes that he has survived four
Thanki
months as a surgical intern at New Jersey Medical
School in Newark, NJ, without being mugged...
nonprofit that rebuilds homes damaged in natural
wrote
writPost.
Teaching Foundation.
Ketan
The New School in NYC, and she spent this
working with St. Bernard Project, a
past summer
disasters. She also
a high-school
through the Washington
run
program
ite class
earned her EdM from
Brooklyn and
has completed a career
shift (and change from
doing anything remotely related to her psych
major) by getting a job as a software engineer
at
ing
as
school graduation celebration in May 2013 was
made even better by the presence of VC alums:
Around the
started tutoring for
recently
money
working a brief stint at the NYS Legislature in
Albany, she moved to Boston in July 2013 and
started her first real job at an environmental
consulting firm. (Congrats on your career!)
Charla
08
teaching French at Highland High School in New
Jersey (just started her fifth year, mon dieul) and is
slowly but surely working toward her master’s in
the art of teaching (MAT) French through Rutgers
by taking a class or two a year. She’s swim-coaching and planning to attendthe alumni swim meet
As for us,
awesome
hashtags have gotten
Instagram!
Hayley is still
Kristen
marking
Meade
has continued for
Vassar
second
her fourth year with the organization.
having Jonny Yao ’ll and Mike Longue
T 2 around City Year HQ! Loving
in DC and has
a
Crew, specifically
VASSAR
her Boston
roomies Katie
QUARTERLY
“Say
83
Yes
the Dress” Interlichia ’ll,Jerry
to
“[indistin-
guishable awful sound]” Gilligan Tl, and Peter
“Bearded Robot” Grauman ’ll.
Elliot
Creem
just started graduate school
at
Tufts U. in Medford,
master’s candidate for lawand
the Fletcher School
MA, where he is
diplomacy.
“I
am
a
at
currently focusing
on
interna-
tional security and energy policy and am enjoying
life in Boston. I am taking an interesting mix of
and
law, economics, and political science courses
am
enjoying the return to academia!”
Will Jobs
can
tellyou something about sand
theater company in
Boston and our flagship production of MuchAdo
About Nothing was staged outside at a beach, so I
than in
made more
trips to the beachthis summer
and
the
“I co-founded
sun.
a new
of my life combined. It was
rest
Ly started
quite a show.”
small law
job
practice in Wellesley doing criminal defense
to
and family law. In November, she went
Poughkeepsie for the Vassar Clubs Summit
alums, and had a great time hanging out with
Alex Dempsey ’O9, Marcelo Buitron ’O9, and
Caitlin
a
new
at a
Farkas.
Brian
Rachel
is
Lowenthal
“seriously enjoying
a
profession: Teaching middle-school science
coaching field hockey at an all-girls school
in Bethesda, MD. “I now
can
respond fully to
the names
Coach and Miss Lowenthal. Baby
steps...”
After graduation, Andres
(Po) Posada
moved to San Jose, CA, to work for City Year,
an
Americorps program that aims to decrease
the dropout rates of inner-city schools. Two
few reunions, but be
sure
2022, because he will
the
to
say
good-bye before
be visiting Earth for
not
holidays.
Class
correspondent
Morgan
is still
Burns
working in accounting in Boston, and is considering some facial hair for the winter. By the
time you read this, he might have a full beard.
Joyce and Willa Conway continue
jambalaya the visitors who
Madeleine
to
second-line and
their New Orleans home; Amy Gray
Carmichael, Rebecca
Katz, Grace
Cannon, Jenny Hartman ’OB, Hannah EwertKrocker ’O9, Jer Isseks ’07 — laissez les bon temps
trek
’OB,
to
Emma
rouler,
amirite?
Dana
11
Cass
702,561.5304
cass.dana@gmail.com
Alessandra
more!
even
Since
”
graduation, Hannah
Kullberg has been
12
(Zan) Schmidt
couscous.
Max
moved from NYC
to
Los
A lot. Of couscous.”
Fagin is working toward
a
master’s in
Purdue U. in
Indiana,
aerospace engineering at
and has applied to the Mars One
program.
Pending the results of
process,
Max will be
one
a
two-year selection
of a small group of
people who fly to Mars to found a colony, and
spend the rest of their lives there. If accepted, he
will remain here long enough to go to our first
84
enjoying
less life support from the powers that be—we
are
making
our
way!
Countless 2012 alums happily exist within
Vassar’s unofficial campus;
WINTER
2014
In the world of education and
universities,
exploring the
function of a newly discovered family of cAMP
targets called Epacs at Rockefeller U. and lives
Banton
with his cats, Daniel and Shelly. Tobian
spends days teaching at Ridley-Lowell Business
& Technical Institute and nights feeding his
house obsession with Trulia, Zillow, and Houzz
Blanchard
is working at a nonprofit
apps. Eliza
(Harrison) Brody has been
Alex
career
guidance, and case management
field work at a Harlem high school. Pam Vogel
conducts her master’s research on immigrant
nannies and the reproduction of cultural capi-
Brooklyn,
NY. The
tal in NYC and is a research assistant at the
Columbia Business School. Jason
Greenberg
is
now
a
special
education/ELA teacher in the
Bronx with the NYC
Teaching Fellows program
College. He
city’s theater scene includes Molly Shoemaker,
who has been upgraded to artistic assistant at
Signature Theatre Company and lives with
Julia
Fields.
Hopping between theater companies in Rhode Island and Virginia last year, Emily
MacLeod
is now
happily settled at the Manhattan
Theatre Club. Lilli
Cooper is understudying a
and is
role for the national tour
Rural & Migrant Ministry on the Justice for
Farmworker Campaign. She lives on Main Street
and plans to stay local.
be
heading back
of Wicked. Soon she’ll
to NYC to
do
a
production
The Atlantic Theater Company.
Hannah
McDermott
works for
stop punching
She lives with
Mendieta
Vogel.
Pamela
seling,
Rockefeller Foundation’s celebration of their
centennial year.
Emilia
Pardee
worked briefly as a manager at an
organic butcher shop, switched to a gourmet
food and cheese shop, and now
loves her job at
a brand-new baby tech start-up. Amanda
Wigen
is still working for the Bryant Park Corporation
and 34th Street Partnership BIDs, and living with
Ruth
a master’s student at Bank Street College
attends
Robinson
of Education. Nearby, Carson
Columbia School of Social Work and does coun-
further behind
Our Vassar campus lives are now
us, but our class ties remain strong. 2012ers are
the good life of mid-range beer and
picked up conceptual
Angeles. “I’m currently an AFI Fellow at the AFI
Conservatory working toward an MFA in cinematography.”
Rachel
Goss
is working on a master’s in art
business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London.
Kassandra
Frua De Angeli is national
artistry
trainer for Smashbox Cosmetics in Italy.
Leah
Varsano
tells us: “I am living in rural
Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer, coordinating community projects and eating a lot of
Evan
Schorr, who is still
working in the Rackets Bureau in Manhattan
as a trial preparation assistant. In the past year,
and as
gmail.com
building a naturalfood company with her father
Portland, OR. The Better Bean Company has
seen
so much growth that Hannahmoved down
Look
to theBay Area to grow brand awareness.
for Better Beans coming to a Whole Foods near
you! Another Bay Area success
story is from
Amanda
Waterhouse, who just published her
book Food and Prosperity: Balancing Technology
and Community in Agriculture, as
part of the
in
Brooklyn bender,
Rachel
and earning her master’s in bioethics at NYU.
Azcona
found himselfback in the classroom
as a proud third-grade teacher in Harlem
Zachary Zeilman
vassar2ol2classnotes@
new
business, InternationalCellular Telephone, and
studying hard in an MBA program at Florida
International U. “I’ve found plenty of time to
and volleyball since being back
play soccer
in Miami, but I’m always hoping to play
the
on
lives with
Raymon
and
years ago, he moved back to his hometown
of Miami, FT. He is working for his parents’
Continuing
Russek
vation company in Brooklyn,
and contemporary sculpture.
art
as
an
art
repairing
at
conser-
modern
Yen
Nguyen has
another impractiand an impressive
cal expression of good taste
Samantha
Shin
teaches
way to not make money.
elementary children at the British International
School
to
read, write, draw
who works as
their feelings, and
another to get on the slide.
Evan
Glenn
and Dylan Evans,
a traveling management consulone
and performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade
Theater or with his group, Griffey. After working at InterlochenCenter for the Arts last year,
tant
Andrea
for
Sisco
is back in New Yorkand
Harmony Program,
a
working
nonprofit that provides
free after-school music instruction. Jeremy
Bloom
is playing in a Balkan party band named
Tipsy Oxcart. Robert
Wagnerman does a bit of
everything, but seems to attract fame and import.
Recently, he directed and shot for Cory Booker’s
national senate
campaign and is shooting/editing for the United Nations and Patron. Alanna
Okun
is a writerand associate editor at BuzzFeed,
where she helps run their DIY page, and lives with
Molly Turpin. Sarah Begley has switched over to
“Brand X” after a
year at Newsweek, and she’s
now
the digital operations editor at Time. No,
she doesn’t care
which one your parents had on
the coffee table
growing
up.
pursuing
an
MSEd at Hunter
will graciously accept any visitors from the 2012
is enjoying his
class to pop by. Evan Waldron
second year at theRutger’s New Jersey Medical
School and pursuing an MD/PhD.
Holding down the 2012 legacy in
Poughkeepsie, Katia Chapman works at the
Up in Massachusetts, Danny Letizi enjoys
working as a programmer/analyst and is trying
to motivate himself to apply to master’s programs
in computer science. After Natalie
workedwith
Thompson
she
orphaned animalsin Namibia,
began veterinary school at Tufts with Hannah
Siebens.
Julia
Ding began medical school at
Brown U., aka the grad-school version of Vassar,
where she continues to juggle poorly and ponder
the meaning of “real person.” After long days in
the research lab, Michelle
Duong acts as house
director for a sorority at UPenn and waits for
from chemistry grad schools. At
good news
Dartmouth College, Zheyang (Michael) Xie
received his bachelor’s degree in
engineering
and is now
working on his master’s in engiin
neering management. He plans on a career
Internet/e-commerce after graduating next June.
In Washington, DC, Elsie Raymer is running a
statewide campus program for an environmental PAC around Virginia’s gubernatorial election.
Over on the West Coast, Zach Sorgen is still
that music life, rockin’ in L.A., writing songs,
pitching them to major artists, and celebrating his
on
first major musical placement. Jeremy Gottlieb
left Madrid, Spain and now
works at Mosaic,
clean energy investment startup in Oakland.
Caroline Jaquiss road-tripped to San Francisco
a
with Olaf
at
a
Carlson-Wee, where she
now
works
small app start-up called Thanx, explores
in constant
California, and engages
conversations
about Bitcoin. On her Weitzel Barber Art Travel
Prize to Scandinavia, Samantha
Ives worked for
Danish designers. She is moving to Seattle
two
work in fashion/textile design.
Sarah
On the international scene,
Leung
lives in Beijing and works as a development and
marketing manager for a nonprofit providing
and hopes
to
intensive medical care
abandoned children.
to
Nethero
is finishing her
Beijing, Julia
Fulbright on women’s empowerment in China,
in
visiting her lifelong roomie, Zan Schmidt
Sydney, Australia, and then relocating to NYC
to work and attend graduate school. Across the
ocean,
Greg Shapiro is backpacking through
Batts
Central America, and Isabella
recently
guided a group of high school students through
Panama and is preparing to move
to Helsinki,
Finland, to write and to explore her other
Also in
homeland.
Thanks for the love!
Cassidy Hollinger
13
707,272.9554
cass.hollinger@gmail.com
Brown
is researching with a
School; Rachelle
professor the evolution of placentas in reptiles;
Mena
and Jennifer
is working in a microbiology
and immunology lab in NYC.
Stateside, there are alums who have managed
working
Damon
avoid moving to NYC. Xandra
moved to Dallas, where she is a data analyst
for Concentra’s MS research division, and a
Curtis Brown
to
shoe sales associate
at Macy’s. Also in Texas is
Lemieux, working for a tech start-up in
Austin. Zach
Kent
is working with Denver Bike
Sharing and planning his next wild adventure.
Danielle
Max Frankel is
teaching sixth-grade science and
social studies in Tulsa, OK, as part of Teach for
America. Maddy Boesche
is working at the
Women’s Interagency HIV Study in Chicago,
and sending me snapchats from the KinterRovner love nest; Laura
Kinter
is working as
the marketing director for an Emmy-winning
documentary production company, and Andrew
Rovner
spends his time working at Steppenwolf
Theater and tending to his beard. Gary Linkevich
is on staff for the Bridgemen Marching Corps,
as a drumline tech, and Ashlei
Hardenburg is
working in the production office for a new J. J.
Abrams TV series.
Classmates who have abandoned
us
but
Citigroup,
at
importantly,
more
he and Siobhan
to
Reddy-Best are working hard
the class of 2013 alumni-giving goal.
meet
Symons is definitely
Caroline
In NYC: Laura
Cassius
is
Van
Ltd.,
artist.
an
is
an
intern at
literary
a
working
Eerde
as
a
agency; Hannah
publishing associate
the Council on
Foreign Relations; Angela
Dumlao
is stage managing at the All for One
Theater Festival; and Chris
Campbell-Orrock
and Becca
Shulbank-Smith
are
living in Astoria,
at
where Chris is the artistic intern
at New York
Theatre Workshop, and Becca is working at
54 Below in Manhattan. Rachel Chait is writ-
ing
releases for
news
Emma
a
classical music PR firm;
has
Greenstein
internship with the
an
music editorial staff at Oxford
University Press;
paralegal at a small law firm
specializing in employment discrimination cases;
Emily Nash spent the summer
acting and is now
in a production of The Cherry Orchard.
Cory Epstein is
a
for the
West Coast include: Kristine
this, Vassar still hasn’t put up the
homepage, but it’s fine, because
I can
keep refreshing it instead of doing my
readings because I am still in school. Other
like me decided to go straight into
poor souls
graduate school, including: Amber
Footman,
who is pursuing a master’s in European and
Eurasian studies at George Washington U.;
the visual
Olson, who serves
coordinator and curator
for the
As I write
as
Halloween
Wilsonville, OR, Arts and Culture Council, and a
member of the art committee at First Presbyterian
Alcantara
Church in Portland; Ann-Marie
is
working in San Francisco as a marketing intern
with the nature
conservancy in California, as well
Trautner
is living
as in a toy store; and Hannah
in Oakland and working as a TMS technician.
Caitrin
Hall
is living in Los Angeles, pursuing
work “where foodie and food justice intersect.”
Sarah
Cheng,
attending
medical school
at
the
UC, San Francisco; Joshua
Solomon, attending
Florida State U. College of Law; and Arial
Shogren, a doctorate student of biology at the
U. of Notre Dame. Other perpetual students
Ruginski, in the PhD program in
cognition in neural science at the U. of Utah;
Brittany Stopa, getting her master’s in public
health from Tufts and working as a research
include lan
coordinator
at
Boston’s Children
Hospital;
Evelyn Berger, doing a PsyD program in
school-clinical child psychology at Yeshiva U.;
and Natalie
Allen, all the way
the London
at
School of Economics pursuing
conflict studies.
an
MSc in
A few other ’l3ers have found themselves
home,
to
Nicholas
Jasso
is
at Shenzen
Rainey, who is teaching English
Experimental High
China. Jordan
Miller
School in Shenzen,
and Jenna
followed their travel bug
Konstantine
three-weekadventure across
Europe, avoiding “reallife.” Sydnie
Alquist is working as a college counselor at the
high school affiliated to Renmin U. in Beijing.
Cebe Loomis
spent September in Bali as a still
on
a
photographer for an ethnographic film, Bitter
Honey. Daniel
Lempert is spending the year
teaching English to high schoolers in a suburb
of Paris, while Will Lefferts is doing the same
in Marseille.
T3ers in research include: Dan
Freeman,
working at the U. of Florida College of
Medicine researching effects of caffeine during
pregnancy; AJ
technician for
Kim
a
is
working
as
a
research
zebra fish lab Harvard Medical
YOUR RESOURCE FOR:
now
assistant men’s tennis coach at Vassar; Jillian
Guenther
is
student-teaching
with the Vassar
education department, and Raff! Kiureghian is
also student-teaching, at Poughkeepsie High
School through Vassar’s Dean’s Program.
Henry Liang is playing Carmen San Diego. Ron!
Teich
is a cross-country coach at a school in
Maryland, and beginning a
substitute teaching
an
admission
counselor and co-coordinator of multicultural recruitment at Haverford College (traitor).
Will
Serio
is the finance director
on
Allentown
Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s gubernatorial campaign;
Patrick Donohue
is also in Allentown, working as a geotechnical specialist at Advantage
Engineers. Lily Pytel moved to Boston with
another VC alum and started working in web
Beauregard is working
development. Michael
with several nonprofits, and living with Dylan
Molho
in Providence, RI;
and Evan Cesanek
Lexi Diamond is also in Providence working as
a literary assistant and teaching artist at Trinity
Rep Theater. Matt Elgin is working as a paralegal in Washington, DC, living with fellow alums
Jake
a
Harris
political
and Kar Kapoor.
Rob
•
Networking
the
Connecticut. Shane Trujillo is
Islands; and Kate
globe.
Let’s all
Closer
and research assistant in the Turks and Caicos
across
via the Alumnae/i Directory
editor for a company that makes promotional
corporate videos, and Tyler works for ELS
preparing light packages for large events; Emily
could not be reached for comment.
Godts is workposition in Virginia. Yannick
ing for Pilobolus Dance Theater in western
out
Stay in Touch
Kelly Nguyen, Tyler Glover, and Emily Izquierdo
made it to L.A., whereKelly works as an assistant
just be
jealous of Sophia Wassermann, who is living
every week like it’s Shark Week, as a divemaster
spread
the
arts
•
Keeping
in touch
with classmates
Updating
•
your
information-new
addresses, emails,
phone numbers;
changes;
births; marriages
and
career
Visit the Connect section of
the Vassar Hub for Alumnae/i
and Families and go to
My Account"
to make
updates.
Ruggiero was
intern for the Christie for Governor
campaign in New Jersey. Aashim
Usgaonkar is
VASSAR
QUARTERLY
85
in memoriam
Mary McGiffert Maggard
1941
1924
1941
Lucy Bailey Summers
1942
Elinor Johnson
June 01,1976
1925
Helen Wakelin Dornbusch
1942
1927
M
Editha
1942
Day Landon
1928
1942
Meredith Todd Stuart
Florence
Pierson
Morrison
1942
1929
Margaret Matthews Flinsch
April 16, 2011
1942
Adelaide Buist
1942
Grinnan
L. Frances
1942
Finch
Florence Fishbough Hoogland
July 10,
1930
1943
Mabel Austin
Beatrice
1943
Burnett
Armstrong
1943
Isabella Harrison
1943
Evans
1944
1937
Faith Adams Griefen
1944
1938
1944
Virginia Chapin
1945-4
01, 2014
September 18,
1945-4
1945-4
Greene
Hartdegen
1945-4
Betty Anderson
Aroline Pitman
January 01,
1939
Katharine
Patterson
1945-4
Hilda Reis
Chapin
1945-4
Howard
Kernan
1945-4
Bijur
Mary Fowler Curtiss
1945
Catharine Lynch
Marion Hall Agnew
January 04,
1941
1945
WINTER
Maude Parker
2014
1948
1949
1949
1949
Davis
Frankel
1950
1945
1950
Helen Wieman
1951
Bledsoe
1951
Joan Mackenzie Kelley
Muriel Smith Tonge
1961
1951
Padgett Pugh
1951
1952
2012
Sommer
1953
August 15, 2013
Josephine Sills Hulbirt
Nancy Farnam
Gannett
Waters
Carpenter
Mary Madison Turner
O’Brien
Parsons
Anthony
Louise Mac Nair
Stoll Blinn
Morgenschweis Pugh
Kathleen Howell
1967
1953
Karen
Lesh Hunt
2013
Catherine Goldman Weinberg
September
1971
1976
19, 2013
Joan Hertzberg
Sarah Appleton Weber
Phoebe Stiles King
Margaret Perkins
Brewster
November 23, 2013
Margery Neuman
Reed
December 30, 2013
del Carmen Tapia-Belsito
October 23, 2013
1976
Maria
1976
Joan Tulin
October 07, 2013
1978
Jean Crotty Murphy
December 09, 2013
1979
Eleanor DiMento
Hynote
December 17, 2013
1980
Bayard
T. Whitmore
December 22, 2013
1982
Greggory A. Mitchell
April 22, 2013
1995
Deborah N. Kelley
October 08, 2013
1995
Christopher
August 04,
2013
December 02, 2013
Claire Salvail Hadden
2013
October 01, 2013
November 12, 2013
Ginzbarg
Kraber
Joan Kalisch
1964
2013
September 24,
1952
Nancy Cale Thompson
April 22,
Carol Johnson Abbott
Luise
2014
Robin Jenny Rothschild
November 07, 2013
Knight
Martha Ann Beck
October 27, 2013
Doralee Clowes White
Dora
Boylen
1963
October 28, 2013
McKinney Ramstad
Odile Green
June 11,
1966
Virginia Weeks
Patricia
B. Marie
November 29, 2013
Joan Tilton Kenney
Pass
Nancy Hulick Jones
January 18, 2014
November 30, 2013
October 18, 2013
1945
1961
November 19, 2013
Mary Pilliod Enard
Hana
Cobb
Olive Watson
December 22, 2013
Eunice
Bowhay
Margaret Waters
January 06,
September 17,2013
November 10, 2013
1945
1960
December 14, 2013
Eliza Jackson Ewing
Lee
Margaret Dyer Pierce
September 30, 2013
Sheilah Ross
Katherine Andrews Nalen
November 08, 2012
October 05, 2013
Elisabeth Miller Burger
Ruth
1958
November 18, 2013
Johnson
CynthiaKnipe Sarosdy
November 24, 2013
Mary Gather Hemphill
June 27,
Joan Farrell Flint
Marion
1956
November 18, 2013
Enid Neidle Kaufman
Browne
December 11, 2013
May 11,2012
Blair Rogers Major
January 05,
2014
September 14, 2013
86
1948
Ward
2013
December 31, 2013
November 27, 2013
1940
Stevens
Patricia
1955
Repec
Carolyn Schorr French
K.
Mary
December 29, 2013
December 13, 2013
October 11, 2013
December 01, 2013
1940
1948
Wilmuth Tyson White
Florence
Weiss
1955
2014
December 22, 2013
November 05, 2013
2014
December 26, 2013
1940
1948
December 10, 2013
October 01, 2013
1940
Barbara Halenbeck Hess
Jane Weston
Petschek lervolino
November 28, 2013
December 22, 2013
January 05, 2014
1939
1947
Rutledge Freeman
April 11, 2013
2013
December 04, 2013
1939
1947
October 23, 2013
Elizabeth Banfield Cole
Mary Payson
1947
WhitingLytle
Katharine
Mary
2014
November 03, 2013
2013
September 20, 2013
October 28, 2013
Alice Smith Wheeler
1939
1947
date unknown
December 28, 2013
1938
Ann
1955
Virginia Messina
Thea
Carol CunninghamSpires
December 14, 2013
November 16, 2013
December 11, 2013
Mary Jane Kingman Gates
July 03, 2010
January
1947
Harvey
Barbara Ann Frantz
Meta
1955
December 24, 2013
Oswald
Scott
April 14,
2013
November 01, 2013
1937
1947
Kominski
Marjorie Dorson
June 01, 2013
Elinor
1955
January 04,
Janet Ketchum Whitehouse
January 24,
November 24, 2013
Agnes Barry Omundson
September 27,
1937
1946
September 11, 2013
October 04, 2013
1936
Valerie Hathaway Tew
Charlotte Tallerday Huntington
November 27, 2013
Prounis Adams
Florence
January 22,
November 17, 2013
January 25, 2009
1934
1946
December 20, 2013
1993
May 18, 2005
1930
Joan Foss Whipple
Green
1954
Carpenter
December 24, 2013
December 13, 2013
August 29,2009
1930
1946
Stoddard
October 07, 2013
January 27,2002
1930
Eleanor
Suzanne
Anne
Adele Tucker
November 19, 2013
December 01, 2013
November 10, 2013
October 01, 1986
1929
1946
December 28, 2013
1996
February 28,
Faricy Condee
September 21, 2013
Norma
C.
1954
November 05, 2013
December 24, 2013
December 24, 1990
1927
1946
2014
January 7, 2014
September 26,1989
Nancy Nowell Brewer
December 11, 2013
Elizabeth Adams Daniels
January 28,
May 01,1981
1924
1946
Slatoff Gordon
Norma
November 01, 2013
March 29, 2001
1
1922
2001
Y. Choi
2013
Adrien A, Chase
date unknown
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QUARTERLY
87
last page
RUNNING INTO THE UNKNOWN
By
April
15, 2013
the best
was
my life. When I said
Heather Ann
stunned. Of
was
could I say such
she
thing,
on
killing three people, injuring
and
264
line,
“How could that be the best
of
your life?” she asked.
my
teammates.
But those
about
for anyone who
that
thinkme
to
certainly
was
insensitive
Heather’s initial
was
my
12
a
asking myself
events
at
question that
my entire life.
All my life, I’d wondered what I would
do,
how I would respond when called,
when challenged with
situation. Would I
run
a
solely
This
own
danger or
I thought,
concerned
personal safety?
of my life’s existential
and the need to answer
the
was
one
questions,
question influenced many of my personal
and professional choices. I sought answers
in the U.S.
Army and law enforcement.
I
engaged
in challenging athletic endeavors
such
skydiving, parachuting,
as
long-distance
WINTER
2014
celebrating
are
question—my question—was
is
a man
to
in
his
courageous when others
answered.
decisively
act
life-or-death situation. To
a
To
involved
bombings,
crucible in which that
a
being
are.
their life. But
day of
worst
was
they
people
the
post-race party
a
my
are
actions.
not
of the
the
for me, it
outdoor solo
and
swimming.
667
Boylston
Street. When the first
act
be
cautious.
are
when others hesitate. To
be
exploded, I knew, I absolutely
knew, something was wrong. I smelled
selfless when others thinkof themselves.
bomb
the
the
sulfur;
I
the
saw
smoke;
own
was
only afterward
explosion
I
on
Mendlsoh
Bruce
was
of stairs toward the
explosion
into
dangerous situation.
I said: I realize
was
the wounded and
a
Okubo
truly
Kenshin
and
Pres
on
Boylston
Street.
Free
Daily
an
the
Into
position
desperately needed
it,
accordingly. In hindsight,
I did as defining who I am
so
never
what
the horror
thought
to
help
the frightened, who
in
that I
now
by
as
a man.
|
Bruce
I
former
|
I
with
Mendelsohn'9o,
U.S.
in Korea
Germany,
outreach
M.
Gordon-MIT
Program.
He will
a
is
for
and
director
of
and
the
Bernard
Engineering Leadership
run
the
2014
Boston
Marathon.
by
provide
Army officer
service
communications
and I acted
I view what
//
understood selflessness until I confronted
In those chaotic moments, I
I
taken aback
so
the unknown.
only that
courtesy
Portait,
Heather
to
down three flights
safety, running
uncertain and
that I realized I
That’s what I explained
when she
Boylston Street. I moved without
hesitation, and with little regard for my
was
It
had the answer.
I heard
screams.
Within 30 seconds of the
life-or-death
toward
away? Would I help others, as
hoped, planned, or would I be
with my
at
ran
during
in the Boston Marathon
was
often
was
of
tragedy. But the
that day answered
I’d been
younger brother—who
topic
But that’s all
most
To me,
accomplishment
people
My
The
Vassar. The discussions
at
important.
it
I learned what I
minutes,
society.
Discussions
made of.
was
and continued
of the
civilized
For
And in the
moment.
marathon—and I were
suffering
masculinity—what men
are
are
supposed to do, how men
supposed to behave, our “role” in
more:
safety or aiding others in a
reaction. Before you read on, please
know that I care
deeply about the pain
affected by that
88
15,1 faced a true life-or-death
was
forced, quickly and
decide what mattered
lot of discussion in America
a
about
discussed and debated
others; they were
life-or-death situation.
It
today
time
brutally, to
ensuing
—
sitting
became
sons
There’s
age
an
me.
On April
wasn’t there, who didn’t experience what
I experienced,
at
were
selfish choices. Those
were
choices weren’t about
my personal
simple
It would be
on
the sidelines—their
choice. I
day
playing rugby
when my contemporaries
others,
countless more?
traumatizing
I continued
that
detonated
the Boston Marathon finish
at
she
How
was.
when
spring day, bombs
gorgeous
day of
my wife,
Thompson ’92,
course
a
to
so
Bruce Mendelsohn ’90
image
marthon
Pres
Asociated
When Jacqueline calls,
please answer the phone!
it’s almost time for Vassar’s
Phonathon.
Spring
Every year, hardworking
So if Jacqueline
fellow Phonathon
student should happen to call you,
Phonathon students like Jacqueline speak
please
with hundreds of
support,
alumnae/i, seeking your
or a
answer
the phone and pledge your
then talk with her or him about
was when you were at
Vassar,
and
support and raising thousands of dollars
how life
for Vassar’s greatest needs. In the pro-
about how it’s going today. It just might be
cess,
they often bridge the gap
their Vassar
experience and
between
yours.
the most
had in a
interesting conversation you’ve
longtime.
Educational Excursions
■
for Alumnae/i, Family & Friends
;
_
with Mita
Choudhury, Professor of History
*•
*.
'
V
.
*....
*
:
Join
IZ
S3
I q
i ‘ C'l
on
exploration of Catalonia
an
a
and Cathar country—one
region
in which the
people have
resisted conventional national identities and
:
:
I
their
cultures and
unique
practices.
L’Abbaye-Chateau de Canton will be
■:1,:Pm
*■
us
of the “borderlands” of Europe,
our
The
clung ferociously to
beautiful 10th-century
home base in the countryside.
■Hi
mm
ft
illgi
i::a' UiS446
:
with
Eugenio Giusti,
Begin with
once
3
Associate
Professor of Italian
days in Venice to explore the city
with Professor
board the M.S. Le Soleal (132 staterooms),
on
we
Giusti;
will journey
the Croatian cities of Split, Hvar, Korcula,
Dubrovnik,
and Rovinj, as well as Kotor, Montenegro, and the island of
to
Pula,
Trogir,
mm
June
PARIS TO NORMANDY
BY RIVER SHI
with Gabrielle Cody, Professor of Drama
m
kii
%
vm
■r.
3
g
28-July 8, 2014
■
■
a
Begin with
2Vz
days in Paris with Vassar-exclusive activities, then board the
Avalon Creativity (68 staterooms) to sail the Seine, discoveringthe twists
turns
of its storied past. Paris monuments, Impressionist
Masters,
historic castles and fortresses, Normandy landscapes, and battlefields
and
both
recent
and ancient: take it all in,
traveling in style by
’
For
trip details
and the full Vassar Travel
alums.vassar.edu/programs/travelor
Program calendar for 2014, please visit
contact Susan
Alumnae/i Affairs, at 845.437.5453
or
Quade, Associate Director of
suquade@vassar.edu.
river
ship.